Xu Xingtao, a traditional craftsman and inheritor in Shandong's Ningyang county of Tai'an city, has been making dough figurines for around 13 years.

The custom of dough figurines, which are vivid and colorful figures created by hand with flour and glutinous rice flour as raw materials, can date back to the late Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) and is listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

His classic cartoon figures such as Guan Yu, a character in the Three Kingdoms (220-280), Shouxing, the god of longevity, the Four Heavenly Kings, and characters from the Journey to the West, have attracted many collectors from all over the country.

Xu Xingtao, inheritor of the Ningyang dough figurines, makes a dough figurine. [Photo/VCG]

The dough figurines of the Four Heavenly Kings are created by Xu Xingtao that are used to pray for good weather for the crops in China's ancient times. [Photo/VCG]

The dough figurine of Guan Yu, a character in the Three Kingdoms, is made by Xu Xingtao. [Photo/VCG]