Remembering lives

Placing his miniature dwelling model in a sunlit, outdoor setting, the branches of Li's golden persimmon tree sway gently, responding to the breeze with a subtle quiver. Its shadows dance gracefully across the weathered wall of the house.

"A miniature constitutes a form of multi-dimensional presentation with a high degree of realism. Compared to a house in photographs, it delivers a more powerful visual impact and sense of space," Li said.

Li began sharing his folk house scale models via social media platforms in 2018 and two years later, his videos went viral. "The pandemic compelled us to stay home, reflect on the past, and connect with our emotions," he said.

"Each folk house carries with it the history of a family and witnesses the laughter and tears of generations. It carries the profound weight of a vanishing family culture in China," Li said.

His career as a miniatures artisan also exposes Li to the rich emotions and memories of many people.

One of his customers could not hold back tears when she shared stories of her childhood. Her house was expanded, room by room, throughout the years, as her father tirelessly saved money. She left the village eventually and the house was demolished, leaving cherished family memories buried deep within her heart.

Another man in his 40s was moved to tears after he saw the model of a rural classroom, complete with its wooden chairs and dusty blackboards. "Perhaps the classroom helped him recall memories of his youth and first love," Li said.

Amid China's large-scale urbanization and rapid development, the memories of many residents have been woven into the collective experience of a generation, with a large population moving from villages to towns and cities, leaving behind abandoned folk houses in their minds.