North China's Shanxi province's Sun and Moon Shining Together Inkstone, designed by Lin Xiaolin and crafted by Zhang Yingli, has been awarded the prestigious WCC-Award of Excellence for Handicrafts (WCC-AoE), the highest honor in the craftsmanship industry.

The award was announced by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Crafts Council (WCC) and is the only winning work from Shanxi in this year's judging process.

An inkstone is a stone used to grind ink for calligraphy and painting. In 2008, the craft of making Chengni inkstones was listed as one of China's national intangible cultural heritages.

Lin is a third-generation designer of Chengni inkstones. He is a rising star in the Chinese traditional stationery industry, a provincial ceramic art master, and an arts and crafts master in Yuncheng city. Zhang is a skilled Chengni inkstone craftsman trained in their carving technique.

The awarded Sun and Moon Shining Together Inkstone features a unique design and exquisite texture. The overall shape is round, with a smooth concavity in the center, resembling a rising sun. The upper ink pool is shaped like a crescent moon, and the surrounding wave patterns are vividly carved, creating a harmonious and auspicious image.

Over the years, the Chengni inkstones designed and crafted by three generations of Lin's family, have won numerous international, national, and provincial gold awards. Seven of their works have been awarded the WCC-AoE by UNESCO and are now part of the organization's permanent collection.