Retired sailor brings traditional ships to life

In his small workshop by the Laodao River in suburban Changsha, Hunan province, gray-haired Wang Fangde is busy working on a model of a warship nearly 900 years old.

"It will take another month to complete," said Wang, 68, pointing to a wooden miniature.

Almost every day, Wang confines himself to the small room, which is packed with various tools - and an old electric fan during hot summers - to work on his ambition of building a museum to preserve local boat culture.