Li Chengcai uses a brush to clean a dough figurine of Eileen Gu made during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, on April 2. [Photo/VCG]

Folk artist Li Chengcai from Qingdao in East China's Shandong province has created a series of dough figurines including Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon; as well as Eileen Gu, a champion of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics; and other figures such as characters from Journey to the West, one of the four ancient Chinese literature classics; and stars from the World Cup. Based off online pictures, he created these exquisite and vivid dough figurines.

Li was a soldier of the cookhouse in an army, and has since fallen in love with dough figurines. He has been devoted to this handicraft for 17 years. In order to attract more potential inheritors of this intangible cultural heritage item, Li went to campuses to participate in related activities and publicized this handicraft to students and amateurs through live streams. Later on, he was invited by China Central Television to shoot programs about dough figurines.

Li Chengcai records the process while creating dough figurines which will be used for teaching later, on April 2. [Photo/VCG]

Li Chengcai shows his dough figurines of football stars, on April 2. [Photo/VCG]

Li Chengcai shapes dough to make figurines, on April 2. [Photo/VCG]

Exquisite dough figurines made by Li Chengcai, on April 2. [Photo/VCG]