Xia knocks off decayed parts from a broken pan. [Photo/CFP]

Now, Xia says that not only has there been a drop in demand for repairing pans, as it has become much cheaper to simply buy a new one, but there is also a lack of interest in learning the skill.

Repairing pans to earn money for the family is getting more and more difficult, Xia said. Xia only earned 22 yuan ($3.54) in the past two months to repair 5 pans.

Because it costs so little to repair a pan, the traditional skill is fading away, but I don't want to see the result, Xia said.