Beijing, January 20 (Youth.cn) - On January 13, 2026, in Hebi City, Henan Province, a folk artist showcased his stone carvings of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals.
In the depths of winter, in Xun County, the nationally renowned historical and cultural county in Henan, the outline of Dapi Mountain loomed faintly through the mist. Warm sunlight pierced through the morning haze, spilling into a courtyard at the mountain’s foot. There, an 81-year-old folk artist sat steadily before his worktable, carefully tracing crimson pigment onto his stone carvings with a sheep-hair brush dipped in vermilion. As the brush glided over the textured surface of the bluish stone, the vibrant red and muted gray interplayed, eloquently narrating the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Xun County. Photo/CFP