In the past 10 years, Zhao Qiushi has created more than 2,000 pieces of microscopic carvings in Changchun, capital city of Northeast China's Jilin Province.

The artist, who learned the traditional Chinese artistic techniques in university, provided the customer within five days a 30-millimeter stone ornament carved with the Heart Sutra, a popular Buddhist scripture which includes 260 Chinese characters.

"To remain true to tradition, I never use a microscope during the creation," he said.

He attempts to create the carvings on different materials, such as dark-red enameled pottery and jade, which are also popular with his customers.