Folk artist Kan Zongqin displayed a series dough sculptures based on the 12 Chinese zodiac signs to welcome the New Year in Zaozhuang, a city in east China’s Shandong Province, on Sunday. /VCG Photo

Dough sculptures use flour and glutinous rice flour as the main raw materials, with the addition of artificial color, paraffin wax, and honey. Depending on the complexity of the figures, the sculpting process could take hours, days or even weeks to complete. /VCG Photo

Kan displays his pocket-sized creations, representing the 12 zodiac animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. /VCG Photo

Zodiac animals, known as "shengxiao" in Chinese, are based on a 12-year cycle, with each year relating to a different animal. The animals are believed to bring good luck and have a great influence on people’s personalities. /VCG Photo

Generally, dough figures are made on streets and sold on the spot. Over the past decades, these elaborate artworks have carved out a niche market among tourists and collectors in China. /VCG Photo