Fossils fuel a passion for paleontology

Rich resources

Some remarkable discoveries in China have confirmed the country's rich fossil resources.

Large numbers of plant and animal fossils have been found in Liaoning province since the 1990s.

The fossil of Gigantoraptor, the largest bird-like dinosaur ever found, was discovered 15 years ago in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Overseas experts have praised the discovery of feathered dinosaur fossils in China over the past two decades as a major advance in the understanding of the evolution of dinosaurs.

"We need to do more and to make science popular with children to develop their interest in paleontology," Wang said. "China has done very well in protection of fossils, but has still not done enough in turning education and marketing of them into an industry."

Wang refines the appearance of the fossils he collects to highlight the traces of plants and animals, otherwise they would just look like stones, he said. Sometimes customers can't see any markings.

"After getting these fossils, I need to prepare them based on gaps and traces in the rock layer. To highlight a creature in a stone takes at least a whole day," he said.

After the preparation, some trilobites and chrysanthemums are often visible in the fossils, and even bug antennae can be clearly seen.

Wang said that preparing the fossils is for the dual purposes of getting them ready for sale and popularizing paleontology. He said he hoped more people could see fossils in person, rather than looking at pictures of them online.