From a 7-feet homemade robot to a submarine: China's larger than life DIY projects

From inventing paper to the compass, ancient China is known for its inventions that are still essential to our daily lives. Centuries later, the inventive streak still runs strong in its citizens. Here are some of these outlandish, do-it-yourself inventions 'made in China.' (REUTERS)

This home-made car was built by Zhu Runqiang in Hefei, Anhui province. He built the car with components he collected from used vehicles. (REUTERS)

The robot was invented by Tao Xiangli. It can be controlled a remote controller. The self-taught Chinese inventor built the home-made robot, named "The King of Innovation", out of scrap metal and electronic wires that he bought from a second-hand market. Tao completed his creation in less than a year, with costs of production and living expenses amounting to 300,000 yuan (USD 49,037). The robot, measures 2.1 metres (6.9 feet) in height and 480 kg in weight. It turned out to be too tall and heavy to walk out of the front door of his house. It can perform simple movements with its hands and legs and also mimic human voices. (REUTERS)

A full-scale replica of the Airbus A320 plane was built by inventor Zhu Yue in Kaiyuan, Liaoning province in China. (REUTERS)

This home-made helicopter was made by a sixty-year-old inventor Guo Leiting, in Yuncheng, Shanxi province. (REUTERS)

This unicycle was designed several years ago by Chinese inventor Li Yongli who called it "the number one vehicle in the world". (REUTERS)

Farmer Wu Yulu drives his rickshaw pulled by a his home-made walking robot near his home in a village at the outskirts of Beijing January 8, 2009. This robot is the latest and largest development of hobby inventor Wu, who started to build robots in 1986, made of wire, metal, screws and nails found in rubbish sites. (REUTERS)

This home-made mechanical horse vehicle was made by Su Daocheng on a street in Shiyan, Hubei province. Su spent 2 months making this 1.5 metre high and 2 metre long horse, which weighed 250 kilograms with 4 legs and 2 supportive wheels, local media reported. (REUTERS)

This home-made suitcase vehicle was made by its inventor He Liang. He spent 10 years modifying the suitcase into a motor-driven vehicle. The suitcase has a top speed of up to 20km/h and the power capacity to travel up to 50-60km after one charge, according to local media. (REUTERS)

Zhang Wuyi sits in his newly made multi-seater submarine at his new workshop near an artificial pool in Wuhan. Zhang, a 37-year-old local farmer, who is interested in scientific inventions, has independently made seven miniature submarines with several fellow engineers, one of which was sold to a businessman in Dalian at a price of 100,000 yuan (USD 15,855) last October. The submarines, mainly designed for harvesting aquatic products, such as sea cucumber, have a diving depth of 20-30 metres (66-98 feet), and can travel for 10 hours, local media reported. (REUTERS)

Zhang Yali made this giant bicycle with his friends. It is 3.2-metre-high and 5.5-metre-long and seats three people. It weighs over one tonne, cost Zhang more over 20,000 yuan (USD 3,156 ). Zhang spent two months making this bike as a gift for his son. (REUTERS)