A craftwoman from San Chi Zhai clay sculpture studio paints a clay rabbit, Sept 13, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] |
Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 15 this year and a clay sculpture studio called San Chi Zhai in Hebei province that specializes in creating clay sculptures has prepared a series of lovely clay rabbits for the festival.
Worshipping clay rabbits was an old popular Chinese tradition in Northern China. People believed clay rabbits could bring joy, health and happiness to children on Mid-Autumn Festival.
There are four kinds of clay rabbits, including one riding an elephant, one riding a tiger, one on a gourd and one on a qi lin, a mystical creature with dragon-like features in Chinese myths.
In 2013, San Chi Zhai's clay sculpture was listed as the intangible cultural heritage in Hebei province.