Two years ago, the National Art Museum of China in Beijing began a cooperation with the Ministry of Education to sculpt busts for teachers who have received national awards for their devotion, as a celebration of the annual Teachers' Day on Sept 10.

On Wednesday, three teachers from Beijing sat for sculptors at the museum in recognition of their decades of work and dedication to their respective levels of education.

The event is also the 12th iteration of a regular sculpture workshop program initiated by Wu Weishan, the director of the National Art Museum of China and a sculptor in his own right, whereby people who achieved excellence in their specific field are invited to the museum to sit for the sculptors.