A training course for traditional Chinese New Year wood block painting got underway for the second time at Shandong University of Art & Design on June 13, introducing students to one of the country's most iconic heritage crafts.

New Year's wood block painting originated in the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279), and evolved from embroidered portraits. The New Year paintings feature colorful themes and are engraved on wood blocks painted with watercolors to be printed onto paper.

The course is the latest installment of Shandong province's plan to cultivate a fresh batch of China's intangible cultural heritage successors.

Some 60 local enthusiasts enrolled for the training, coming from a vast range of the community.

"Not only can I learn more about this classic cultural craft in class, but I also can broaden my vision as a whole and exchange with other folk artists," said Yan Haijun, one of the newly-enlisted students.

Wang Jing, a volunteer teacher on the course who also studies interior design at the university said that younger generations have the opportunity to carry on cultural heritage and even add their own unique creativity to the technique.

Shandong province plans to designate another three provincial colleges to carry out the cultural heritage training program.

Li Guolin, the deputy head of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture hoped that the training course would serve as a bridge connecting the traditional technique with the modern arts, education and life.

A display of some of the students' work from the first training course of Chinese traditional New Year wood block painting held in Shandong University of Art & Design. [Photo/sdwht.gov.cn]

Visitors admire crafts created by the students of the first training course of traditional Chinese New Year wood block painting held in Shandong University of Art & Design. [Photo/sdwht.gov.cn]