Wood for the tea

When Zhou started out, he only had basic burins, but he now owns a fully equipped studio with electric burins and even a CNC engraving machine.

Exploring woodcarving as a hobby allows him the freedom to break with convention and try innovative methods. Dissatisfied with traditional burins, he designed his own set and had them custom-made.

Even the shavings and scraps can prove useful. When making a chestnut, Zhou often uses sawdust to imitate the hilum at the end of the nutshell to make it more convincing.

"The way I judge these seeds is by closing my eyes and holding them-both a real seed and my carving-in my hand. When I cannot tell them apart, the product is complete," Zhou says.

Zhou's idea for making statuettes inspired by morning-tea refreshments came from his observations of the modern souvenir market. Living close to Dongguan Street, a historical site and local tourist attraction, he felt that many of the objects on sale were indistinguishable from any others sold at tourism spots around China.

Zhou therefore started developing innovative tourism products. "There are a lot of sculptures of mythical dragons and phoenixes on the market, while the most common objects are rarely represented. Breakfast foods like buns and dumplings are more likely to arouse empathy."

And while many people are wowed by the authentic appearance of Zhou's creations, his love for Yangzhou culture and his innovative approach have also moved many others.

"A true artist always retains the spirit of craftsmanship. We need Zhou's virtuosity in our lives," says Yangzhou resident Zhang Xianjun.

Contact the writer at chengyuezhu@chinadaily.com.cn