Never too late to shape your dreams

Zheng Hongkai shows figures of characters from the Chinese epic The Journey to the West in his home in Yaojia village, Yuyao city, Zhejiang province, Feb 4, 2014. [Photo/icpress]

Zheng Hongkang, a sanitation worker in Yaojia village, Zhejiang province, has become an online sensation after he turned his home into a showroom of legendary figures.

The 63-year-old was an aspiring artist, interested in drawing and working with clay, since he was young, but he never received a proper education.

Zheng said the Chinese Dream concept, put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of 2012, emboldened him to realize a long-cherished dream of visualizing childhood memories with diverse creations.

Using cement, steel, and paint, Zheng has made figures of animals and characters from Chinese myths, including the classic novel The Journey to the West.