Lifelong bond with jade

Jade sculptor Li Yu and his apprentice Yao Dianhong look at a snake-themed jade sculpture they made to welcome the Chinese Year of Snake at their workshop in Changchun city, the capital city of Northeast China's Jilin province, in this photo taken on Dec 15, 2012. Jade carving master Li Yu, 71, took up the traditional craftsmanship after he began working at the Jade Carving Factory of Changchun City as a green hand in 1965. He started with shallow knowledge on the art and painting but was engaged in the handicraft work all through his life after intensive study and laborious practice. He has accumulated rich experience in carving birds, flowers, animals and people in his nearly 50 years jade carving career. Li Yu always worried about failing to pass down his craftsmanship before he met his apprentice Yao Hongdian, a lover of jade carving, in a trip to collect jade materials. "I wish more people could understand the culture of jade, so Yao and are obliged to help pass down the jade carving art," said Li Yu. [Photo by Bai Shi/CFP]