Weifang city engaged in New Year woodcut paintings

As the current year comes to a close, the artisans in the Hanting district of Weifang city – located in East China's Shandong province – have been busy making New Year woodcut paintings, showing people's beautiful wishes for the next 12 months.

The Yangjiabu area in Hanting district is one of the three main producing areas of New Year woodcut paintings in China. Indeed, the Yangjiabu New Year woodcut painting was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item by the State Council in 2006.

The art originated in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and flourished in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), with a recorded history of over 600 years.

The woodcut painting has a full and symmetrical composition, exaggerated and simple shapes, concise and smooth lines, as well as bright colors, representing a strong sense of life.  (Edited by Chen Chuxuan)

An artisan concentrates on making a woodcut painting. [Photo by Fu Minghao and Liu Xuewen for chinadaily.com.cn]

Colorful examples go on display of Yangjiabu New Yer woodcut paintings. [Photo by Fu Minghao and Liu Xuewen for chinadaily.com.cn]