A blacksmith in southern China has built a copper microcosm of the Forbidden City, the world's largest surviving palace complex, in his house.

Li Weimin, a Chaozhou local in Guangdong Province, recently invited reporters to

appreciate his newly-finished work. Occupying almost an entire room, Li's Forbidden City features 200 or more miniature palaces and halls, including gates as small as nails that can be opened and closed like real doors.

Using the skills he gained from his previous job, the 62-year-old retiree spent two years on the landscape, using up 30 kilograms of copper. He has also lacquered each model building with gold.

Li said his next ambition is to build a landscape depicted in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) scroll painting Along the River during the Qingming Festival. The 5.28-meter-long original features hundreds of humans and dozens of animals.

(CRI February 3, 2008)