Traditional craft captivates taste of modern audiences

In 2013, Zhao opened a dough figurine shop on e-commerce platform Taobao, and has showcased his artistry in countries such as Malaysia, Morocco and Spain, receiving acclaim for introducing Chinese intangible cultural heritage to foreign audiences.

In 2014, he launched a summer training course to teach children the traditional craft in Yuncheng city, Shanxi, and has also established a Wanrong dough sculpture research center to train apprentices.

Zhao's dough sculpture workshop has undergone remarkable growth, transitioning from a modest 8 square meters to a sprawling space spanning 900 sq m. With an annual sales volume of 2 million yuan ($280,000), his business has directly and indirectly provided employment opportunities for over 400 individuals.

"People's warm reception to my Sun Wukong figurine has bolstered my confidence in sharing the traditional art with a broader audience," he said. "Through my hard work and innovation, I hope to better pass down the old tradition to future generations."

Contact the writers at zhuxingxin@chinadaily.com.cn