Chen Juzheng doesn’t just collect unusual stones he finds along the Yellow River banks, like many other residents in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province. He also turns them into works of art by painting them according to the stones’ colors, shapes and textures.

The 58-year-old folk artist has now painted on these special stones his own reproductions of many historical paintings and frescoes found in the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, where large numbers of Buddhist frescos have survived for more than 1,000 years.

Chen’s vivid artistic works, including the nine-color deer, sleeping Buddha and Bodhisattva seen in the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, were praised by many local painters and residents in the Northwestern metropolis.

Chen said he likes to take a walk along the Yellow River banks and bring home any odd stones he happens to find there.