Yang Chonghua, a craftsman in his sixties from a family of carpenters, began learning to make ancient horse carriages in his forties. He has since become the fourth-generation inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage item of ancient carriage-making techniques.

Over the course of more than 20 years, he has crafted nearly 40 models of ancient horse carriages using thousands of wooden parts. He also spent six years creating a 1:36-scale wooden miniature of the old Jinan train station.

Yang showcases an ancient horse carriage made of wood. [Photo/Jinan Times]

Though Yang's workshop is small, it is filled with a wide variety of wooden products and materials. From ancient horse carriages about 90 centimeters long to tiny teacups the size of a fingertip, every piece is handcrafted by him.

His most remarkable work is an ancient horse carriage called "Yuhe", approximately 92 cm long, vividly showcasing the carriage's interior decorations. The carriage has two wheels, each with 20 symmetrical spokes.

The carriage consists of over 300 parts, almost entirely using sunmao (mortise and tenon) joints, without any metal connectors. "I spent around 30,000 to 40,000 yuan ($4,128.07 to $5,504.09) on materials alone. It took me eight months to complete and involved more than 200 different steps."

The horse carriage "Yuhe" consists of over 300 parts, almost entirely using sunmao (mortise and tenon) joints, without any metal connectors. [Photo/Jinan Times]

He emphasized that making an ancient horse carriage requires extensive preliminary research and data collection to ensure authenticity. For his research, he often visits museums and libraries, consults with folklore experts, and has even gone to carriage museums in Xi'an and Linzi for on-site observation.

In 2013, Yang conceived the idea of making a wooden model of the old Jinan train station. He collected historical materials and, using the original blueprints from the station's completion in 1912, began crafting the model at a 1:36 scale. After six years, he successfully recreated the old Jinan train station with redwood and sunmao joint techniques.

The wooden model of the old Jinan train station made by Yang. [Photo/Jinan Times]