Postcards with paper-cut patterns have become a popular cultural innovative product. Modern Chinese paper-cutting has developed into a commercial industry and remains popular with the public.

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Paper-cutting is among China’s oldest folk arts, and possesses its own unique attributes.
Despite the fact there are a number of varieties of paper-cutting across the country, such as the Yuxian style of Hebei Province and the Yiwu style of Zhejiang Province, the art form’s importance to ordinary people is declining as it becomes less of a key part of their daily lives.
Thus, this form of art will need to evolve with the times.

Currently, various cultural and creative products related to paper-cutting are emerging in many parts of the country, which has expanded the market for paper cutting.

 

Yiwu: A modern take 
Yiwu is known first and foremost for its markets. Yiwu has the world’s largest small commodity wholesale market. Paper-cutting also has a significant presence in this city.

Zhu Xinqi, a paper cutter, is playing a leading role in the development of Yiwu paper-cutting artwork. His works use traditional techniques to extract vivid scenes from daily life.
Yiwu has also proven an ideal location for fostering paper-cutting due to its industrial chains. Zhu has been helping paper cutters connect with enterprises and local businesses in order to integrate the artistic and industrial sectors.

In this commercial environment, producers can combine papercuts with their small commodities, applying the patterns of papercuts into product packaging and accessories. This joint cooperation effort to develop cultural and creative products can not only increase commodities’ cultural added value, but also expand sales of products.

Yuxian: Industrialization
Representing the northern paper-cutting style, Yuxian paper-cutting has already formed a mature industry chain, integrating design, production and marketing. This has helped boost the incomes of local people.

In 1998, Chen Lin, a local craftsman, started his own business in Yuxian and registered the brand “Paper-cutting Hou.” Chen indicated that he and his team were trying to combine paper-cutting with the art of painting and calligraphy, and actively promoted the transformation of paper-cutting artworks into decorations or art products. In addition, they went to great lengths to incorporate paper-cutting artworks into brands of companies, thus making them not only artistic works but also strong symbols of commerce.