Liu Yongyue, a former fisherman and a craftsman in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, is passionate about his model ships. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu Yongyue, a 68-year-old former fisherman, has dedicated his retirement to crafting model ships since 2010.

The senior said he believed that the local fishing culture is worth showcasing and can be integrated into model ships.

Liu, a local resident of Shengsi county, Zhoushan, in East China's Zhejiang province, has been living by the sea since he was born and has witnessed the profound changes in fishing vessels.

He said that in the old days the local residents took to the sea in rafts, then followed canoes, then wooden boats and finally modern steel ships.

In order to pass on and revitalize the local fishing culture, Liu never stopped studying and making model ships since his retirement, and kept teaching local residents and tourists the craft of model ship making for free.

The former fisherman's memories of Zhoushan's islands have been engraved on the model ships he has made.

"The craft of model ship making is dying out. I hope that young people can pass it on, which is of special meaning to us local residents," Liu said.

In recent years, Shengsi has prioritized identifying its featured natural and cultural resources and promoting local characteristics, in order to drive the marine economy in the county and even in Zhoushan.