If you’re into ancient Chinese architecture, check out 73-year-old Wang Yongxian on Douyin (China’s TikTok), who has built a sturdy following for his in-depth knowledge and livestreams. A retired architect in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, Wang makes sketches and models to further illustrate structural concepts, and often streams on site at buildings he is lecturing about. One viewer told NewsChina that Wang’s video on bucket arches (dougong) helped them thoroughly understand this unique building method. To show its intricate system of wooden interlocking brackets, Wang employed a model that he dismantled part by part as he lectured. Unlike many flashier online celebrities, Wang wears an understated Zhongshan suit that has since become his signature. Fans told NewsChina that Wang’s courses have made understanding ancient Chinese architecture accessible, which was his aim when he started livestreaming. “An ancient building is much more valuable than an ancient painting or porcelain, because it shows China’s ancient culture in a comprehensive and three-dimensional way,” Wang told NewsChina.
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