“Amazing! My sister will definitely love this gift!” said 16-year-old German exchange student Taoliya at the Wudi Hai Lily Restoration Base, where she found the long-awaited replica model of a Chinese bird-like dinosaur for her sister. Through a video call, she sent this “cloud gift” to her sister back in Germany, fulfilling her wish.

Taoliya is an international student at our college, and her younger sister Xenia is a huge dinosaur enthusiast. When Taoliya learned that Wudi County is home to a “Dinosaur Dream Factory” — a base that restores ancient dinosaurs and is currently the largest and most comprehensive paleontological science restoration base in China — she had been wanting to send her sister a Chinese dinosaur as a “cloud gift,” something her sister had always dreamed of.

At this “Dinosaur Dream Factory,” restored dinosaur models of all kinds can be seen everywhere—from pterosaurs and spinosaurs to tyrannosaurs, some stretching tens of meters in length. Stepping into the factory feels like traveling back to the Mesozoic Era. “The dinosaur models here perfectly combine modern technology with traditional Chinese craftsmanship. The exquisite workmanship and meticulous polishing are truly impressive,” Taoliya told reporters.

“I want to tell my sister that Chinese dinosaurs are not only ‘real’ but also carry unique cultural and technological power.” Taoliya plans to compile the photos and videos from this study visit into an album to share with her family and friends in Germany, helping more people learn about China’s paleontological culture.