CLAY tiger is a traditional craft in Chejiagou Village in Jimo.

    Cao Mengyu, 65, is one of the village’s best clay tiger makers. He has more than 1,000 color clay tigers at home, making the house a small museum of the craft.

    It is not easy to make a clay tiger and Cao can make about 30 tigers a day.

    Since this winter, he has made more than 3,000 tigers for sale.

    He learnt the skill from his grandfather when he was a child. “Many villagers know about the technique and our clay tigers are sold in cities like Yantai and Weihai. I hope I can pass on the skill to the young generation and let them know about our folk culture,” Cao said.

    (Wang Yuanyuan, Qing Bao)