Feng Xiao, one of the muralists in Yue's company, graduated from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. "This job requires both talent and physical strength," said Feng, explaining that a 3D mural usually covers dozens of square meters and takes multiple artists many days to complete. A typical example is a 30 square-meter aerial view of Shanghai that took the team two weeks to complete last year.

"Working outdoors, everybody has to wear a hardhat and climb up a 6-meter-high scaffold, no different from construction workers," said Guo Jinling, the company's art director.

After graduating from the College of Fine Art at Ningxia University in northern China, Guo came to Shanghai seeking job opportunities. She says she has gone through thick and thin with her colleagues in the past three years, but that the company has an increasing number of customers, with orders now coming from both within Shanghai and other parts of the country.

"Last year, we received more than 100 orders online, with a yearly turnover of more than 800,000 yuan (US$124,500)," said Hua Jing, who is in charge of customer service for the company.