2. Shanghai mechanic builds life-sized replicas of the Batmobile entirely out of scrap metal

The replicas, all based on the “Tumbler” version of the Batmobile in director Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, were designed by 26-year-old Li Weilei and a small group of assistants in a workshop in Shanghai’s Minhang suburb.

Unfortunately, Li’s scrap metal Batmobiles are missing one crucial thing - proper engines. They are transported via hoists.

3. Doting Chinese dad builds three-tonne working tank ... for his six-year-old son

“I want to realise my dream and give my son a cool toy,” Jian Lin, from Mianzhu village in Sichuan province, said.

The tank has a special side door so his son can climb onto it easily, and the boy’s friends join in the fun too.

4. Chinese farmer spends one year and US$2,995 building plane from scratch – but doesn’t know how to fly it

Zhang Jiucheng, of Longnan, northwestern Gansu province, had been carefully constructing a silver metal-framed aircraft with a wingspan of about 7 metres. Despite his lack of training, he still hoped to give it a test flight.

5. Best dad ever? Chinese father keeps promise to son and builds giant model of Transformers robot in backyard

The dazzling yellow version of Bumblebee towers over onlookers in Wang Liansheng’s backyard in Suqian, Jiangsu province.

It all started when Wang told his two-year-old son that he would make a model for him because he couldn’t afford to buy one after they watched a Transformers movie.

6. Farmer-inventor - one of China’s ‘peasant Da Vincis’ - enjoys life in his orange submarine

“I never studied this in school, I’ve based everything on my imagination,” Tan Yong said. “I can stay underwater for 45 minutes.”

Gauges and air pressure dials in his electric vessel have been screwed to the cabin wall above plastic piping, which would look appropriate beneath a kitchen sink; handwritten operating instructions have been fixed using sticky tape.

Elsewhere, electric cables are connected to an array of fuseboxes, while a gas canister has been positioned on the floor.

7. Farmer’s home-made helicopter fails to fly – again – after he spends three years and US$29,950 building it

With many villagers and members of the media looking on, the aircraft failed its second trial flight. It remained on the ground 10 minutes after its propellers were started.

Despite the setback, the farmer, who is in his 50s, said he would carry on working on it until he managed to make it work.

8. Chinese man with an obsession for military vehicles builds backyard armoured car

Shi Yanqiang, a former People’s Liberation Army soldier who owns a car accessory shop in Shandong province, spent every spare moment over seven months modifying a derelict light truck into a light tank.

Although the vehicle looks authentic, its not allowed on public roads.

9. Chinese glass factory worker builds his own electric ‘supercar’

Chen Yanxi, a car buff from Haikou on Hainan Island, designed the black-and-red vehicle and bought most of the parts needed to build it, including the engine, tyres and transmission system.

He will not be able to take his creation on the roads, however, as only vehicles made by state-approved manufacturers are deemed to be roadworthy.

10. Building company boss makes his own plane from scratch in northern China

Yang Shijun, 45, took more than a year to build the plane, which he made in memory of his father, who was a pilot.

The amateur pilot reached an altitude of 200 metres and was in the air for about 2½ hours.

11. Handyman in western China builds two-tonne Bumblebee in home courtyard

Zhang Song spent more than four months building the model in the courtyard of his home in Hazhai village in Zhangye prefecture. The finished product weighs two tonnes and is propped up by three poles.