Yangliuqing New Year Pictures
One of China's three famous folk New Year picture styles, Yangliuqing New Year pictures originated in Yangliuqing Town, in the western suburbs of Tianjin City, in the early 17th century. Adopting the method of integrating block printing and hand-colored decoration, and characterized by varied themes, such as brightness, vivacity, happiness, auspiciousness and fascination, they are very popular. The pictures by the young people in Yangliuqing have enjoyed a high reputation in China.
Yangjiabu Woodblock New Year Pictures
Yangjiabu Woodblock New Year Pictures originated in the Ming Dynasty West Yangjiabu is located near Weifang City in Shandong Province. The original settlers, mostly with the family name Yang, moved here from Zitong County in Sichuan Province during Hongwu reign period of the Ming Dynasty. The woodblock pictures used as New Year decorations have mainly Buddhist themes, while the horizontal wall pictures are based on woodblock illustrations. Since 1980 experts and foreign students have come from more than 30 countries and regions, such as the United States, Japan and France, to Yangjiabu to study the art of woodblock pictures.


Hui'an women

Zhenhu embroidery
Stone Carvings of Hui'an
The stone carvings of the Hui'an area of Fujian Province have a history of over 1,600 years. Over the centuries, they have developed into over 250 varieties in six categories. Hui'an stonemasons created such treasures as the East and West pagodas in Quanzhou, the peristyles of the Dragon Hill Temple in Taipei, the stone lion at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, the statue of Zheng Chenggong on Drumming Wave Islet in Xiamen, and the peristyles of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The stone carvings by Hui'an have a ready market at home and abroad. They are well received in Japan, and the countries in southeast Asia, Europe and America.

Zhenhu Town-Kingdom of Embroidery
In May 2000, Zhenhu Town in Jiangsu Province was given the title "Kingdom of Chinese Embroidery" by the Chinese Ministry of Culture. Embroidery is the local pillar industry.
Suzhou embroidery is a local traditional handicraft, characterized by beautiful patterns, meticulous stitching and elegant colors. Along with the Hunan, Guangdong and Sichuan embroideries, it is one of China's four famous styles of embroidery.
The town has participated in embroidery exhibitions in Japan, Australia, Germany, Singapore and some other foreign countries, creating a great sensation.

Xukou Township-Kingdom of Chinese Calligraphy and Paintings
On August 6, 1991, the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China formally nominated Xukou Township in Jiangsu Province as a "Kingdom of Chinese Calligraphy and Paintings." Yushe and Yaoshe villages in the county are particularly famous for their output of calligraphy and painting. Over five million calligraphy and paintings have been produced in the county by more than 600 artists since 1956. In 1988 the "Youth Calligraphy and Painting Research Society of the Fragrant Hill of Wuxian County" was established. Xukou Village's farmer paintings are renowned for their unique style integrating a strong flavor of life with the fragrance of the soil.


Calligraphy and painting works

Sheyang farmer paintings
Boli Farmer Paintings
Boli Town, near Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province, has been awarded the title of "county of Chinese modern folk paintings" by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China. So far, 118 local works have won prizes in calligraphy and painting competitions above the municipal level, and have been exhibited in many foreign countries, including the United States, Japan, Sweden, Norway and Australia. Boli farmer paintings have been collected by the China Art Gallery, the China Museum of Folk Art and the Jiangsu Art Gallery. They are characterized by their unique artistic style integrating a strong flavor of rural life with the distinctive characteristics of folk art.

Guanzhong Shadow Play
Shadow plays are a traditional folk art, the origin of which can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD).
With puppets made out of cow's leather or donkey hide, the shadow play figures of the Guanzhong area of Shaanxi Province are modeled on the stone relief patterns of the Han Dynasty, the academic-style painting of the Song Dynasty and folk paper-cuts. Guanzhong shadow play figures are popular with collectors and as home decorations.


Sheyang farmer paintings

Guanzhong shadow play
Liuduo Township's Modern Folk Paintings
Liuduo County in Jiangsu Province became noted for its folk paintings since 1974. A total of 186 persons are now engaged in paintings and paper-cuts. So far, they have created over 2, 300 works, including more than 1,300 which have been displayed at national and foreign exhibition, 120 of them have won international or national gold, silver and bronze prizes. Some 446 Liuduo paintings are in collections in and out of China, and 48 have been sold to Japan, the United States, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries and regions. Liuduo County was named "a county of Chinese modern folk paintings" by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China in 1991.

Kingdom of Farmer Calligraphers and Painters
Huangzhong County, which is home to the Ta'er Monastery in Xining City, Qinghai Province, is called a "kingdom of farmer calligraphers and painters" by artists. Over 70 local farmer painters have created more than 1,000 art works, of which some have been displayed in international and national exhibitions. Drawing their materials from country life, their paintings are characterized by a simple, vigorous, natural and fresh style with traditional folk features.


Quanzhou marionettes

Yangzhou puppet show
Quanzhou's Marionettes
Quanzhou City in Fujian Province is noted for its marionettes. Four puppeteers manipulate the figures, each of which can have up to 30 strings. Two international puppet festivals were held in Quanzhou in 1986 and 1990, respectively, in which over 300 artists from all over the world participated, including those from Britain, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Holland, Japan and the Philippines. Quanzhou is to host the International Puppet Festival February 2002.

The Farmer Woodblock Paintings of Qijiang
The farmer woodblock paintings of Qijiang County, near Chongqing City, first aroused attention in 1983. In January 1984, they were exhibited for the first time in the China Art Gallery in Beijing. Since then, 847 works have been shown in a dozen countries worldwide, such as the United States, Japan,


The making of woodblaock pictures
Britain, Canada and Italy, and over 600 have been collected by the national museum and individuals. More than 50 have won various national and regional prizes.

Yangzhou Puppet Show
Yangzhou's puppets are controlled by three wooden sticks-one to manipulate the ears, eyes, nose and mouth of the puppet, and the other two to manipulate the puppet's hands. The music of the show is based on Peking and local operas.
The Yangzhou Puppet Art Troupe has toured many countries and regions in the world, such as Japan, the United States, Australia, Ruasia, France, Italy, Holland, Taiwan and Hong Kong and has been well received
-

See more about Folk Arts-China 2002

About Folk Arts-China 2002

. January- . November- . October- . September- . August- . July- . June- . May- . December- . March- . China Folk Theatrical Atr- . Owns and Villages- . Chinese Folk Art Festivals . Chinese Religious Folk Art-

	For payment, trip cancellation, please refer to the Terms & Conditions
	For more information, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-865-6221 or email to us at info@chinacustomtours.com