Ningbo vermeil gilt woodcarving has a history of more than 1,000 years. In the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD 220), with the development of timber construction, a kind of woodcarving decorated with lacquer and gold-overlaid became popular. The techniques have been applied to daily items since the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Items include furniture such as beds or sedan chairs used at weddings and other festive occasions. [Photo/Xinhua]