Lou Jiaben works on the mural "Boundless River Flowing to the Sky's End" to restore the masterpiece's rich colors. (ZHU XIYONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Last year, famous mural master Lou Jiaben was entrusted to restore the murals of the Yellow Crane Tower in Hubei province's Wuhan city and also work on new murals to replace those that have become weather-beaten. Lou, who is almost 80 years old, has devoted his career to murals, especially those of the Yellow Crane Tower since the 1980s. In 1983, Lou undertook the mission to create grand murals on the fifth floor of the Yellow Crane Tower. During the period from 1984 to 1987, he dedicated himself to make the paintings vivid and magnificent. The paintings mainly demonstrate the culture and history of the Yellow Crane Tower, and also depict illustrations of the legend and poems about the tower. This time, through his persistence and hard work, the mural named "Boundless River Flowing to the Sky's End" on the fifth floor of the tower has been brought back to its former glory.

Lou delicately applies red paint to the lips of a court lady playing a pipa, a four-stringed musical instrument. (ZHU XIYONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Lou and his wife pose for a photo in front of the Yellow Crane Tower. (LI HUI / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Reference samples for the murals are strewn across a work table, along with other art equipment. (ZHU XIYONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

People attend the opening ceremony of the "Boundless River Flowing to the Sky's End" mural exhibit held on the fifth floor of the Yellow Crane Tower. (ZHU XIYONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Lou takes a look at mural repairs during the ongoing renovation work. (ZHU XIYONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Lou and his assistant have takeout for lunch. (ZHU XIYONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Lou speaks to guests at a work table crowded with an assortment of containers filled with colored pigments. (ZHU XIYONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)