Tan shows off a piece of wood-carving artwork. [Photo/zjol.com.cn] 

Tan Xiangyue, 65, is devoted to wood-carving art in his retirement, and after years of efforts, he has become a famous craftsman in Deqing, Zhejiang province. 

"I do the woodworking not for money, but for spiritual satisfaction," said Tan. 

Since he was a little child, Tan has showed a strong interest in woodwork, especially in wooden figurines and the sculptural ornamentation of wooden windows in his hometown Xinshi, an ancient water town in Jiangnan (region south of the Yangtze River).

Tan carves patterns on a piece of wood with a drilling tool. [Photo/zjol.com.cn] 

However, his interest wasn't put into practice until he retired. 

Tan's idea for art creation is to respect what the wood is and carve it according to its size, shape and texture. 

The retiree thinks wood carving is a kind of handicraft which requires creative ideas and deep consideration. Most of his works have been sent to friends and family members as gifts. 

Tan said he will keep polishing up his skills in the future to better promote the carving handicraft. 

Tan's artworks [Photo/zjol.com.cn]