Huang Zhidong's room is like a small museum. The treasures there are not things he has collected, but miniature (微型的) models dragon heads that he has made himself over the years.
The 16-yerar-old boy, who studies at the Dongguan Science&Technology School, is a big fan of making miniature models of dragon heads. This is a traditional form of art in his hometown of Guangdong. The models can be as small as a fist (拳头).
Huang was interested in dragon heads at a young age, as dragon boat races were often held in his hometown. He noticed that every dragon head at the front of the dragon boats has its special color and expression. When he was in kindergarten, he drew pictures of dragon heads. In the fifth grade, he could sculpt (雕刻) them out of wood.
However, the process was more difficult than he thought it would be. "Draw a picture, print it on the wood, sculpt, polish, paint, color,... it includes almost 10 steps," Huang said. He sometimes spends seven hours a day sculpting of the models of dragon heads.
Huang has even turned his hobby into the business. He often shares his works on Wechat. At the age of 13, Huang received his first order for four models of dragon heads after posting pictures online. It took him two weeks to finish the four models. The praise he got from his customer encouraged him to make more models. He has got many more orders since then.
He is now trying to improve his skills. He is sculpting with different kinds of wood and studying the works of master sculptors.
