Disassembly of a retired A320 aircraft took weeks at Hefei Xinqiao International Airport in Hefei, Anhui province.

Mechanics were from the Anhui branch of Eastern Airlines Technic, a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines. They removed useful parts with great care.

The mechanics are good at both repair and salvage. Aircraft parts are often expensive and so it makes sense to use them again when possible. Each salvaged part will be inspected before being licensed for reuse by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. 

Through the parts recovery process, old aircraft have played a role in the rapid development of China's civil aviation industry over the years. 

"The salvage industry has good future prospects," said Li Hao, who leads the team of mechanics at salvage company in the Anhui branch. "Only 10 Chinese enterprises are currently qualified to do aircraft salvage."