Wood sculptor Long Conghai carves a Buddhist image from an ebony tree in Guilin, Southwest China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. When finished, his piece will include a total 500 arhats like the one pictured. Long, who has 20 years of experience, said he purchased the trunk for 500,000 yuan ($75,745). 35-year-old Long has worked on the sculpture for one year. It is one-third complete. Photos: VCG