Wei Aijun, a folk artist in Yantai, has been infatuated with paper-cutting art for more than 50 years and is devoted to showcasing its charms. She has created a series of works to celebrate the upcoming Chinese lunar New Year.

Yantai paper-cutting boasts a long history, and was popular in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. It's famous for its 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.

The photo, taken on Jan 10, shows Yantai paper-cutting artist Wei Aijun creating an artwork featuring hundreds of Fu, a Chinese character representing blessings. [Photo/dzwww.com]

Wei Aijun makes an artwork featuring hundreds of Fu, a Chinese character representing blessings to celebrate the New Year. [Photo/dzwww.com]

Wei Aijun makes an artwork of a lucky pig for the upcoming New Year on Jan 10. This year is the year of the pig in the Chinese zodiac. [Photo/dzwww.com]