25-year-old mural restorer embraces solitary career

For a young, advantaged woman from the city, life offers seemingly unlimited possibilities. Pursuing a higher degree or working in a fancy skyscraper? All within reach. But a 25-year-old woman in Shanxi chose a more lonely road for her youth, by dedicating herself for the past two years to restoring murals at Guangsheng Temple in Linfen, Shanxi province. For more than 250 work days each year, Guo Jia spent most of her time facing storied, ancient walls and climbing up and down scaffolds. The Weibo account on which she posts about her daily work has attracted 300,000 followers, with Chinese netizens praising both her beauty and her dedication to such an isolating profession. [Photo from Guo Jia's Sina Weibo]