Auspicious clay dragon sculpted to welcome Spring Festival

A teacher introduces the freshly crafted "625 Long Teng Si Hai" clay sculpture. [Photo by Li Li for chinadaily.com.cn]

Artisans in Dingtao district, Heze city, Shandong province, recently used clay sculpting techniques to create a clay sculpture of a dragon representing auspiciousness. They then applied colored glaze for firing, resulting in a majestic clay dragon, conveying everyone's hopes for a better life in the New Year.

Entering the clay sculpture studio of the disabled persons' federation in Dingtao district, one's eyes are greeted by the freshly crafted "625 Long Teng Si Hai" clay sculpture.

The artwork stands approximately 0.6 meters tall, featuring a magnificent and colorful dragon spiraling around a pillar. The lifelike dragon scales and horns embody the dragon's majestic presence. This astounding creation meticulously sculpted and fired by the deaf-mute artist Zhao Jianyong over the course of two months, is truly remarkable.

"Especially in the intricate portrayal of details such as scales and whiskers, our teacher referred to a wealth of references to enhance the three-dimensional effect," said Guo Xiaodan, vice principal of the special education school in Dingtao district.

In order to enhance the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival and convey the auspicious symbolism of the dragon, Zhao combined traditional and modern elements in the color scheme, infusing the artwork with vitality and dynamism. (Edited by Huang Junyao)