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As early as 2,000 years ago, right after paper was invented, ancient Chinese began the art of cutting paper designs. Throughout China’s history, this art has been developed by people living in different regions of the country. Beijing alone has a number of fantastic local shops with beautiful paper cutouts made by some of the best Chinese artisans.

Paper cutouts are generally used to decorate windows, doors, and walls with auspicious pictures, thus earning the name “chuang hua,” or “window flower” in Chinese. Most pieces show a symmetrical design with images of landscapes, houses, people, animals, or flowers. Cutouts designed for festivals usually have an auspicious Chinese character, like “Fu” or “Shou,” which mean Fortune and Longevity, in the middle of the picture. Paper cutting is traditionally a woman’s activity.

It is believed paper art started to take off during the Tang dynasty. The British Museum in London has works made in this period that show a high level of craftsmanship. In the Song dynasty, as the paper-making industry flourished, more varieties of paper were invented, and paper cutting became a very popular pastime for many Chinese. They became so popular, even patterns for porcelain were designed based on paper cutouts. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, this art reached its peak.

Across China, there are three major styles of paper cutting: the southern style, the Jiangzhe style, and the northern style. All three of these styles include many local sub-styles that are famous for their unique designs.

The Southern Style: Paper cutouts made in Foshan, Wuhan, and Fujian are the most famous southern styles.

Foshan – Foshan artisans like to produce paper cutouts with bright colors and extravagant designs. Even though their theme is “loud,” they are liked by a lot of people, including both Chinese and overseas customers.

Wuhan – Wuhan is a city located in the ancient “Chu” culture area. The paper cutouts made here incorporate elements from this culture. They are famous for their vivid images and rich cultural meanings.

Fujian – Paper cutouts produced in Fujian province are known for their animal designs. The interesting design of a famous work called “Chicken-Feet Flower” is cherished by many.

The Jiangzhe Style: Jiangzhe is a region in China that includes Jiangsu and Zhejiang province. These two provinces all produce elegant paper cutouts that have unique, beautiful designs.

Jiangsu – Jiangsu artists make paper cutouts with beautiful flower designs. The flowers depicted are delicate, lifelike, and give a sense of romance.

Zhejiang – Paper cutouts produced in Zhejiang province are used to adorn both homes and lanterns. They are famous for their elegant designs and exquisite craftsmanship. Characters from “Yue” plays and beautiful things in nature often appear on the designs.

The Northern Style: Of all the northern styles, the Shanxi style, Shaanxi style, and Shandong styles are the most well known.

Shanxi – People in the villages of Shanxi province traditionally live in small caves. One of the most important decorations in their cave-houses are paper cutouts. Their cutouts are simple in design and convey a sense of roughness, typical of the character of the people living in the north of China.

Shaanxi – The geographical location of Shaanxi province is isolated from the rest of China. For this reason, the paper cutouts produced here have preserved many of the oldest patterns from ancient Chinese culture. They are nicknamed “living fossils.”

Shangdong – The uniqueness of Shandong paper cutouts comes from the way they are used to decorate windows. Village women in this province cut their designs in pieces, and put them up on window one by one. Altogether, each small piece makes a huge picture. This gives their work a special look.

When you are in Beijing, go shopping for some beautiful paper cutouts in the city’s amazing local shops. It’s best to find a personal shopper to assist you in shopping, because this person knows the locations of the best shops and can give you information on the products you buy.