A floating palace

Xia, a university senior studying polymer materials, was the eighth participant in the relay.

He initially planned "a small pavilion in the sky", but ended up constructing a floating palace twice the height of the relay's inaugural tree.

Xia said his inspiration came from the Vajrasana Pagoda in cave 428 of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu province, a UNESCO World Heritage Site adorned with vibrant murals and sculptures that whisper tales of ancient Buddhism.

"The first time I saw it, I was struck with a shock that hit my soul," Xia said. He immersed himself in research, studying the faded but ethereal lines of flying apsaras (celestial beings) and the vibrant, harmonious color schemes — predominantly red, green, and blue — characteristic of Dunhuang art.

"I was afraid my build would disappoint everyone, so I added as much detail and cultural elements as I could within my ability," he said.

The accumulated 110-hour result was an "aerial Dunhuang" palace that left viewers in awe, accumulating millions of likes.

Surprisingly, many netizens who had never been exposed to Dunhuang culture began to pay attention to the stories behind the 1,000-year-old murals because of Xia's works.

The culture and tourism department of Dunhuang awarded Xia a "Dunhuang Pass" — a ticket valid until the year 3026.

"When An Sir restored Dunhuang along the Silk Road with 10 million blocks, we witnessed the love of the younger generation for traditional culture," their post read. "We also want to express our gratitude for this protection in a romantic way: a ticket valid for 1,000 years."

"We believe that a millennium from now, Dunhuang will still be magnificent, and we believe that a millennium from now, Chinese people will still love Dunhuang," the post read.

Many netizens commented that the specially designed, oversize paper ticket could be passed down as a "family heirloom".

"I'm deeply grateful for the recognition and will continue to use the methods I am passionate about to ensure that outstanding Chinese culture is seen and appreciated by more people," said Xia.