Man spends 40 years trimming holly into shape of rooster

A 78-year-old man named Wang Genliang from eastern China's Jiangxi province has spent 40 years trimming a Chinese holly into the shape of a rooster. Someone once offered him 100,000 yuan ($14,563) for the tree, but Mr. Wang refused the offer. He believes such an interest cannot be traded.

The Chinese holly was a gift from his friend 40 years ago. He said he must trim it several times a year or it will lose its shape.

A poem about a rooster written by former Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong inspired Mr. Wang to start trimming the tree. Even though his hands have been scratched by its thorns, he has never stopped trimming it.

Now the rooster-shaped holly tree is over 2.5 meters tall (about 8 feet), but Mr. Wang thinks still far from perfect.