Dalian artisan's 10-year project wins China's highest folk art honor

A large shell carving boat, featuring the image of a dragon, a phoenix, and various styles of Chinese architecture, has recently won the Shanhua award, China's highest folk art honor, at the 16th Shanhua Award of Chinese Folk Literature and Art.

The boat, measuring 2.1 meters in length, 0.4 meters in width, and 1.4 meters in height, was made by Jin Ji, a national master of arts and crafts based in Dalian, Liaoning province. It took him 10 years from conceptualization and design to its final completion.

Jin said the boat was made using a wooden frame, with Australian abalone shells and Dalian abalone shells as the main materials.

"It is adorned with inlaid turquoise, peacock stones, lapis lazuli, and pearls, perfectly combining gemstones with shells," said Jin, who is also vice chairman of the Dalian Folk Literature and Art Association.