Lu Yushao, a primary school student from Ningbo city, east China's Zhejiang Province, draws attention and compliment from netizens for his stunning set of miniature Sanxingdui relic replicas on May 17, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

A primary school student from Ningbo city, East China's Zhejiang Province, drew attention and acclaim from netizens on Saturday for his stunning set of miniature Sanxingdui relic replicas, reported Xinhua, citing a local media outlet in Ningbo. 

The student, named Lu Yushao, completed the replicas during the recent May Day holiday, Xinhua reported.

Using materials such as cardboard, clay, and foam boards, Lu meticulously recreated the artifacts by studying photographs of the original relics. 

In just five days, Lu crafted eight iconic Sanxingdui replicas. The smallest piece measures only about 8 centimeters, yet each detail is faithfully reproduced.

Lu said that while the actual crafting process was brief, the preparation was far from easy.

Last summer, during a visit to the Sanxingdui Museum in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, Lu closely studied each relic’s structure, even sketching intricate patterns from the bronze standing figure’s sleeves in his notebook.

After returning home, Lu pored over research materials to understand casting techniques and paused documentaries to study key restoration scenes of the bronze sacred tree.

“When I started crafting, I thought animal shapes would be the easiest. Turns out, they were the hardest." Lu said, pointing to the palm-sized pottery pig replica.

Lu’s passion for handicrafts stems from childhood museum trips. Lu’s parents often took him to museums across China, where he developed a deep fascination with history, especially the stories behind artifacts. Over time, he grew eager to move beyond mere appreciation, channeling his observations into creative inspiration to "recreate" history with his own hands, according to Xinhua. 

Global Times