ChineseToday | An old man's dedication to protection of sculptural treasures

ZIYANG, July 5 (Xinhua) -- On top of Hutou Mountain in Shiyang Town of Ziyang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, a 76-year-old man named Zeng Xiangyu is a familiar sight to locals. Accompanied by his dog, he patrols the circular path around Mingshan Temple, meticulously inspecting each stone carving.

Dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Mingshan Temple houses over 60 statues inside 13 caves. Most of these magnificent works of artistry were chiseled during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

In the 1980s, Zeng first came to the mountain with his uncle for temple renovation work. Since then, he has devoted his life to safeguarding these relics. When Mingshan Temple was listed as a national key cultural relics protection site in 2006, Zeng formally became its on-site cultural heritage administrator.

Today, as visitors flock to Mingshan Temple, Zeng occasionally steps into a part-time role as a guide, narrating centuries-old tales. He has expressed that he wishes to protect these sculptural treasures passed down from ancestors to future generations.