Travelers say that "Shanxia Studio" is not only a handcraft studio and cafe, but also a beautiful Yunnan plant specimen museum. What is even more special is that everything here was collected by hand, so every plant has its own story. Lao Shuai from the cycling group said that we need to start half an hour earlier for our rides, because some people pass by Li Zhenhao's place and just cannot move on, staying for half an hour. (His Cycling Cangshan and Erhai | Visiting Villages and People cycling activity passes through the village at the foot of Wuwei Temple, which is the village where Li Zhenhao's "Shanxia Studio" is located.) What's more, the warm Li Zhenhao always prepares tea and snacks for passing guests. Taking a rest there and looking at all kinds of strange fruits and plant specimens is truly pleasant.

This insect specimen making activity is held right there.

Li Zhenhao:

"After having 'Shanxia,' I always feel that this is my mushroom home. As if rewarding myself, it can have all kinds of mushrooms, and because of mushrooms I have become more curious about and found more joy in the forest, such as lichens, fruits, and plants.

I always want to do more things, but right after Shanxia opened, it immediately welcomed a busy summer season. It happened that a few months ago I invited Agua to come to Dali to help. I thought she could help a lot during the summer. At least when I am leading trips, she can make sure the shop opens normally. Even without revenue, being able to keep people who also like these mushrooms and plants from coming to Shanxia and finding it closed is, I think, more important for Shanxia."

Agua:

"Plant and insect making is a temporary special summer activity. It can probably run for one to two months. I hope it is not only about making things. If you have joined our other outdoor activities, dried pinecones, plants, and beautiful complete dead leaves that naturally fall in the forest can also be brought along and become a special travel record."

"There are still many possibilities with plants. The process of growing plants is always very healing. You only need to spend some time watering, fertilizing, and removing pests, and then leave the rest to time. I prefer growing foliage plants and fragrant plants. The qualities of the plants themselves can bring people an unexpected sense of comfort, and sometimes they are also full of all kinds of surprises."

"Dried plants can be arranged and combined in various ways to make decorative pictures with rich feelings. Perhaps the colors of nature themselves have a healing effect. Whether fresh or dried, they all have a different kind of beauty. Rustic and enduring.

In nature there are some mimicry examples: butterflies that look like dead leaves, stick insects that look like bamboo, octopuses that disguise themselves as sea snakes, and so on. To protect themselves, they can disguise themselves or transform into many different forms. Occasionally doing the reverse operation is also quite good. Based on my previous foundation in clay modeling, plus a preference for certain insects, I sometimes think about how to assemble an insect using plant forms.

I like beetles, but I do not dare to raise them. Looking at them is fine. Plants made into them are different. The feel is quite good, and the details are also rich. Let's call it re-creation for now. It is not a proper plant or insect specimen, just for fun."

The making process:

1 Select suitable plant and fruit materials

2 Think about the design and combination

3 Start making

4 Finished:

Some of Agua's works:

Children often make works beyond imagination. What is taught is only technique; creation belongs to the individual, rather than being an absolute level of skill.

Below are works by guests (mostly children). These are products of imagination. The techniques learned at Agua's place are only the methods for realizing them.