Paper-cutting in Yinan, Shandong Inherits Yimeng Spirit

LINYI, China, Apr. 21, 2025 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

The paper-cutting art in Qingtuo Town, Yinan County, Linyi City, Shandong Province, is renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and distinct characteristics. Paper-cutting artists employ traditional hand-carving techniques to produce lines as delicate as hair yet fluid and natural. The innovative “point dyeing and color overlay” technique imbues the works with vivid colors. Themes encompass a wide range, from heroic figures, folk customs, flowers, fish, and insects to modern creations that reflect contemporary life.

 

In recent years, Qingtuo Town has prioritized the preservation and development of paper-cutting culture through establishing a three-tier inheritance ladder comprising intangible cultural heritage inheritors, folk artists, and schoolteachers. Regular competitions, exhibitions, and training programs have nurtured outstanding practitioners and enthusiasts. Collaborative efforts with universities and research institutes facilitate academic studies, creative practices, and technological integration, continuously innovating artistic expressions and dissemination methods.

 

To cultivate children’s interest, Gaoli Central Primary School, Qingtuo Town has set up paper-cutting courses and established student clubs, enabling youth to experience traditional culture through hands-on practice. Themed “Inheriting Intangible Cultural Heritage, Promoting Yimeng Spirit,” the town has organized multiple paper-cutting campaigns to ensure cultural inheritance.

 

Now evolving into both a cultural hallmark and an economic driver, Qingtuo’s paper-cutting industry has developed over 30 cultural creative products, generating employment for over 150 villagers across eight neighboring communities annually. Attracting more than 80 study tour groups each year, the town has been designated as Linyi City’s demonstration base for intangible cultural heritage study tours.

 

Source: Publicity Department of CPC Yinan County Committee