Tradition around the block

An ancient printing technique is in danger of disappearing despite efforts to revitalize it, Wang Kaihao reports in Suzhou, Jiangsu.

Suzhou's old "peach-blossom castle" neighborhood, Taohuawu, appears at first glance to be a normal road with an exceptional name. But, as Spring Festival approaches, many elderly residents are thinking about how the area is known for producing Lunar New Year paintings that are hung on walls to bring good fortune.

Taohuawu bears witness to the city's prosperity in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, when the area hosted many printing houses.