About 30 years ago, it was fashionable and a signal of social status to own a mechanical watch in China. But now the popularity of electronic watches has led to the decline of one occupation - technicians who make a living on repairing mechanical watches.

Zhang Shouren, 72, finds it hard to give up the occupation despite fewer customers. He runs a shop of 12 square meters on the West Street in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

Zhang learned to repair watches and clocks with his uncle at the age of 12 and met his wife Guan Kouzhen in 1961 when repairing a watch for her.

In the past 60 years, Zhang has repaired countless watches from different countries. Some watch manufacturers have already shut down, so he has had to make the parts himself. Some customers have forgotten their watches, but he has kept them in his shop. He is still searching for the owner of a watch that has remained unclaimed since 1957.

Zhang Shouren's grandson Zhang Xuan, 22, majored in economic management at Xi'an University of Posts and Telecommunications. After graduation, he turned down an offer at a large company with a good salary and took on the job of repairing watches.

Zhang Shouren works in his shop in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, Sept 2, 2012. [Photo/CFP]