Geng Shuai, a grassroots handicraftsman based in Baoding, North China's Hebei province, has more than three million online fans, thanks to his imagination and dexterous hands that turn hardware such as bolts and nuts into work of art.

A Gatling gun made of bolts remains one of Geng's favorite works, he said. "The designing took me two months and I poured all my efforts in it," he added. His another work, a slingshot made of ropes and bolts, is also well-known to the public.

Geng has stringent standards when it comes to choosing materials to ensure the quality of his works. Although some netizens doubt the practicability of Geng's works, he said he is satisfied with his own works and it would be "enough" if the works can bring some happiness to his fans.

"I want to prove myself by giving back to the society," Geng said, mentioning he has donated 11 pieces of works to attend an auction of online shopping platform Taobao.com of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba on its shopping festival on Dec 12. "Income from the auction will be donated to children who cannot go to school due to financial challenges," he said.