[Video/ntfabu.com]

A bead threading activity was held in the Hongqiao sub-district of Chongchuan district on Jan 25, with members of Sunshine Colored Bead, a local volunteer group, threading plastic beads into dolls shaped like an ox.

Making dolls themed on Chinese zodiac animals has been a New Year tradition of the group for eight years in a row.

As Chinese New Year approaches, members  gather together to discuss, design, and make the doll of the year.

"The ox-shape doll is made of more than 300 red, yellow, brown, and black plastic beads, and symbolizes a bullish new year. It takes about four hours to make a doll," said a volunteer Lu Hua.

"We consulted online videos on making such dolls and made up a jingle to help others learn the handicraft," Lu added.

Many of the colorful bead-made creations were sold at charity bazaars to help impoverished families in the community.