Ge Zhaolong carves ornamental patterns such as lions and peony flowers into wood. [Photo by Xu Mingyi for Ningbo Evening News]

Ge Zhaolong, a carpenter in Ninghai county, Ningbo, spent five years replicating an elaborate opera stage from ancient times.

The stage features over 9,000 wooden pieces stitched together by a locked mortise-and-tenon technique, whereby one piece is inserted into another without the use of nails. The eye-catching stage picked up this year's Shanhua Award, the highest folk-art honor in China.

Ge burnishes the beam of the wooden opera stage. [Photo by Xu Mingyi for Ningbo Evening News]

Ge Zhaolong spent five years replicating an ancient opera stage in Chenghuang Temple in Ninghai county. [Photo by Xu Mingyi for Ningbo Evening News]

Ge Zhaolong (second from right) explains his artistic process to teachers and students from Donghua University. [Photo by Xu Mingyi for Ningbo Evening News]