Sandalwood replicas of old Beijing sites on display at National Museum

Wooden replicas of two of Beijing's historic locations are dazzling viewers at the National Museum of China, both with their likenesses and their exquisite craftsmanship.

This intricately carved miniature of the Temple of Heaven is made entirely out of red sandalwood. Weighing 12 tons, the massive sculpture is the largest art piece in China carved from this kind of wood.

"This Temple of Heaven carved from red sandalwood is invaluable not just for the material, which is costly, but also for the craftsmanship. The piece signifies our respect for nature. Only by obeying the rules of nature can we achieve a peaceful and prosperous life," said historian Yan Chongnian.

Another wood sculpture is of Anding Gate. It is an historically accurate replica of the gate, which served as one of the nine gates of ancient Beijing's inner city.

"Old Beijing was so grand, with so many majestic buildings and city walls, but young people have not seen many of them. So we created these two sculptures to leave to future generations," said Chen Lihua, director of Red Sandalwood Art Museum.

These two masterpieces will be on display at the National Museum for two months.