In Shangqiu city, there is an artist with a remarkable vision: to spend five years creating a series of brick sculptures depicting the Great Wall. His name is Pan Mingsheng, a inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Shangqiu brick carving. One day, while visiting the exhibition hall of the Xi’an Daming Palace, he was inspired by the intricate miniature brick houses, igniting his desire to create brick sculptures of ancient architecture.

Pan Mingsheng became the first person in China to sculpt the Great Wall out of bricks, and his passionately crafted “The Great Wall” is considered the longest brick sculpture in China. In his work, we see sections of the Great Wall, gateways, some as large as blue bricks, and even enemy platforms as small as cigarette boxes.

Every brick joint on the wall was meticulously carved using the ancient technique of applying three layers of white mortar. Through his brick sculptures, Pan Mingsheng revives vanished historical sites and cultural relics. “To be a true craftsman, brick carving must create unique works,” he says. His creation of “The Great Wall” is a testament to this belief. The Great Wall, spanning across the northern part of China, is not only a symbol of the wisdom of the Chinese nation but also a source of pride. In recent years, Pan Mingsheng has devoted himself wholeheartedly to his work, aiming to create a distinctive brick sculpture of the Great Wall. He has conducted extensive research on the Great Wall, visiting famous gateways along its length. “I want to create this work, as it will be a unique masterpiece in China. So far, no one has sculpted the Great Wall using brick carving,” he explains. This is his motivation for creating “The Great Wall.” “Every morning, evening, and any other free time I have, I carve the Great Wall,” he says. After three years of relentless effort, his brick sculpture of “The Great Wall” finally takes shape. It is composed of over a thousand weathered blue bricks, stretching over a cumulative length of more than 500 meters. “I will continue carving until I complete the goal of creating the longest brick sculpture in China, spanning from Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan,” he adds. This ambitious project is a true reflection of the greatness and grandeur of the Chinese Great Wall. It is estimated that it will take another five years to complete.