Su Dongli (R) and Zhang Xinyu (L) painting with color. Over 10 pieces of sculpture need to be restored with vibrant color.

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- The Thousand-hand Kwan-yin in Dazu Rock Carvings is expected to complete restoration work in late 2014. Su Dongli, Zhang Ying and Zhang Xinyu are the 3 “doctors” responsible for its repair.

Su Dongli, 43 years old, native of Luoyang City, Henan Province, is a cultural relic repairer and has been working in this field for 15 years. In early 2012, she and other 5 colleagues previously working in Luoyang Ancient Arts Museum came to Dazu to repair Thousand-hand Kwan-yin – the No. 1 Project of National Stone Cultural Relics Protection.

She said: “The Thousand-hand Kwan-yin is the most serious ‘patient’ we have ever treated, and the restoring work is very difficult. In Luoyang museum, we mostly do fresco repair. Now the ‘patient’ needs plane and three-dimensional treatment.”

“We feel a sacred sense of mission in our job. As workers related to cultural relics, we are proud to see the repairing procedure going on and that we can turn the corrupted into miracle.” Zhang Xinyu said. (Translated by Chen Siyan, Fathom Language Limited)