Two veteran linemen perform a synchronized dance with their dianxian-gan, their tempered steel blades biting into the earth with metronomic precision. His partner follows up with a clamshell post-hole digger, removing debris in smooth scoops until the 1.8-meter standard depth is achieved. No machines, just calibrated human force: this forgotten craft still outperforms augers in rocky terrain, preserving century-old techniques that keep China’s power grid growing one hand-dug foundation at a time.
