How Cao Yuanyuan's Art Revives Ancient Relics and Inspires Wildlife Love

Cao Yuanyuan has dedicated over a decade to restoring cultural relics at the Sichuan Museum. She has repaired more than 500 artefacts during her career. Her work has helped preserve important details for researchers studying Longquan kilns. Cao Yuanyuan began her conservation career with a Qing Dynasty blue-and-white vase, originally part of her grandmother’s dowry. One of her most challenging projects was a Song Dynasty Longquan celadon five-tube vase, which took a full year to restore.

Her drawing skills play a key role in her conservation work. They sharpen her sense of colour, deepen her understanding of materials, and refine her analytical abilities. She also mentors young conservators by having them practise intricate patterns on paper before applying them to artefacts.

Beyond conservation, Cao Yuanyuan has published illustrated books to raise awareness about animals. In 2018, she released Draw One Little Animal Every Day. In 2022, she published Hello! I’m Pang Dahai, a picture book featuring a giant panda. She believes such books help more people notice and care for wildlife.

Currently, she is working on a new illustrated book about stray cats. She is also collaborating with the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to illustrate every giant panda living at the base. Her conservation efforts have preserved hundreds of artefacts and supported research on historical kilns. Through her books and teaching, she continues to inspire interest in both cultural heritage and animal welfare. Her work bridges the worlds of art, history, and nature.