Architecture 'grandpa' builds knowledge online

Senior educates new generation on ancient method of construction

After retiring from his job as a cultural relics protection worker 10 years ago, Wang Yongxian maintained his passion for ancient Chinese architecture through teaching.

Now age 73, he continues to write books and theses and teaches a course titled "Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Chinese Buildings" at Taiyuan Normal University in Shanxi province.

His main interest is dougong, a construction method that uses interlocking wooden brackets to form structures. The method was one of the most important features of ancient Chinese architecture.