As the Chinese Year of the Rabbit approaches, Nie Peng, a sculptor from Niejiazhuang village in Gaomi, a county-level city in Weifang, Shandong province, is busy creating rabbit-shaped clay sculptures to meet the surging market demand, as people have started shopping to purchase decorations and gifts for the upcoming Spring Festival.

The Niejiazhuang clay sculpture is a national-level intangible cultural heritage item. With bold and exaggerated modeling, naive and unsophisticated style, as well as bright and eye-catching colors, the Niejiazhuang clay sculpture has strong artistic appeal.

Rabbit-shaped clay sculptures are seen at Nie Peng's workshop. Nie is a sculptor from Niejiazhuang village in Gaomi, Shandong province. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Nie Peng, a sculptor from Niejiazhuang village in Gaomi, Shandong province, creates rabbit themed clay sculpture based on the Chinese zodiac to welcome the upcoming Chinese Year of the Rabbit. [Photo/Dazhong News]

The Chinese New Year falls on Jan 22, which is the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, according to the Chinese zodiac. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Nie Peng creates rabbit clay sculptures in various shapes in Gaomi, Shandong province. [Photo/Dazhong News]

The upcoming Spring Festival, which is the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, has boosted consumption of rabbit-shaped decorations. [Photo/IC]

The rabbit-shaped clay sculptures are created to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. [Photo/Dazhong News]