Shell mosaics of Qinhuangdao

Shell mosaics in Qinghuangdao city of North China's Hebei Province are made of spiral shells collected from the beach. The handicraft is based on traditional spiral-shell inlaying skills.

Incorporating elements from ivory- and woodcarving, craftsmen from the Qinhuangdao No 1 Arts and Crafts Plant have formed their own unique style, producing various bold and witty scenes, such as towering peaks, old cypresses and pines, floating clouds and flowing waters, magnificent palaces and pavilions that are full of poetic primitive simplicity.

The shell mosaic "Beidaihe River Fisherman's Song," for example, assembles all of the green waters and hills, scenic spots and historical sites along the river into one picture.

The works produced here cover subjects ranging from flowers, birds and grass, to characters from some classical novels and plays.

Shell mosaics at Qinhuangdao boast refined techniques and beautiful decorations. They are created by hardworking craftsmen who make use of the shell's natural colors, grain and shape to cut, polish and inlay them according to the design requirements.