Chen Yuan handcrafts dough sculptures. [Photo by Zunyi Media Center/For chinadaily.com.cn]

From the legendary general Guan Yu with his long blade to Star Wars icons wielding lightsabers, 37-year-old Chen Yuan from Guizhou province sculpts classic characters to bring dough to life.

As one of the inheritors of Zunyi's dough-sculpting tradition, Chen transforms palm-sized lumps of dough in his studio. Using an array of carving knives, he teases out the faces of mythical beasts.

He kneads jet-black dough until it gleams like satin. Then, with his thumb and forefinger, he pushes, pulls, twists, and rolls — his fingers acting like razor-sharp tools as simple dough becomes vivid human and animal figures.

Dough sculpture of a human figure by Chen Yuan. [Photo by Zunyi Media Center/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Dough sculpting is a time-honored folk art across China. Artists mix wheat flour and other ingredients into a pliable paste, then shape it by hand and with specialized tools.

"Dough art must evolve," Chen insists. He blends modern trends with traditional techniques, moving beyond floral and animal motifs toward a more realistic style. By weaving in pop-culture elements — from anime to film characters — he creates instantly recognizable figures, such as the cinematic hero Nezha.

Dough sculpture of cinematic hero Nezha by Chen Yuan. [Photo by Zunyi Media Center/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Dough sculpture of a divine beast by Chen Yuan. [Photo by Zunyi Media Center/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Dough sculpture of a divine beast by Chen Yuan. [Photo by Zunyi Media Center/For chinadaily.com.cn]