Paper-cutting works from Ye Kaiyuan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

When it comes to Chinese paper-cutting, many think of peonies in red or the Chinese characters fu, meaning luck, or xi, meaning happiness. To change those stereotypes and make paper-cutting more creative, Ye Kaiyuan, a paper-cutting artist from Zhangzhou, Fujian province, worked many years to make the traditional art more modern and fashionable.

The 38-year-old was once a tea dealer in Fujian, with an annual income of more than 300,000 yuan ($45,030).

"People and society tend to judge whether a job is good or not based on income," Ye said. "But I think life is only fulfilling if you do something you like and enjoy. So it's worthwhile to live for my dream."