The 72-year-old Zhao Tienan used to be a set designer for the Changchun Film Studio Group, in the city of Changchun, in Jilin province but was also a natural at carving.

So, in his off hours, whenever Zhao chanced upon a tree root with an unusual shape, say like an animal or something else, he would have a sudden impulse to carve it into something by making the best use of its shape and to reveal its natural beauty.

Then, after he retired, Zhao decided to make his hobby his profession and, as a result, has now become one of Changchun's best-known root-carving masters, the one with the magic touch, turning a tree root into a work of art with his a cutting tool.

Zhao Tienan works hard on a root to bring out its essence. [Photo provided to ejilin.gov.cn]

Sometimes, he may take as much as half a year devoting himself and applying his time and energy to just one single piece of wood. And he has accumulated more than 100 roots turned into works of art, reviving the dead tree with his magic hands.

He says that he loves his work so much that he likes to share his joy with his neighbors by providing free painting classes for them.