Artisans craft paper-cutting masterpieces to welcome Year of the Horse

As the Chinese New Year approaches, intangible cultural heritage inheritors in the Qingdao West Coast New Area (Qingdao WCNA) gather at a paper-cutting studio to create horse-themed cultural products. With the Year of the Horse approaching, these traditional artworks have become highly sought after, driving a surge in market demand for festive decorations.

Creative energy fills the studio, as vibrant red paper is spread across worktables. Artisans skillfully maneuver scissors and carving knives, their hands moving with rhythmic precision to bring ancient patterns to life. In moments, intricate designs with various equine elements emerge from the paper. These paper-cutting horses are remarkably lifelike, capturing the strength and grace of the animal while radiating a profound sense of cultural heritage.

A participant sketches the outline of a horse with a pencil before beginning the paper-cutting process. [Photo/IC]

Three intangible cultural heritage inheritors focus intensely on creating horse-themed paper-cutting artworks. [Photo/IC]

A variety of horse-themed paper-cuttings are spread across the table, featuring lifelike equine elements. [Photo/IC]

Three inheritors of intangible cultural heritage display three large-scale paper-cutting masterpieces. [Photo/IC]