Cross-Straits students sample paper-cutting culture in Yantai

A group of college students from Taiwan visited Yantai to learn paper-cutting, a traditional handicraft in local area, on Aug 18.

The cultural exchange activity was a part of the Cross-Straits Collage Students Camp held by Yantai University from Aug 11-19. It aimed to strengthen cross-Straits culture exchange and offer students from Taiwan a chance to get to know Shandong culture.

Yantai paper-cutting boasts a long history, which is popular in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. It's famous for the delicate design and is of great value in artistic research. It was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2018.

Usually, the artworks are made of red paper, as red is associated with festivities and happiness in Chinese culture. They adorn walls, windows, doors, pillars, mirrors, lamps and lanterns, and can also be given as gifts.

Luan Cuihua, an inheritor of Yantai paper cutting, introduced the basic conception and techniques and showed  some of her artworks.

"Paper-cutting is a hollowed-out art, which gives people a sense of transparency in the visual sense, and can be used to combine boldness and fineness," Luan said.

Her artfully-done handicrafts impressed student when she demonstrated paper-cutting on site.

"Though paper-cutting is difficult to learn, I'm so glad to have the chance to get a closer look at the Chinese traditional art," Chen Nianlin, a college student from National Ilan University in Taiwan.

College students from Taiwan learn paper-cutting with the guidance of Luan Cuihua, a handicrafts artist from Yantai. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]