Woodcut New Year paintings
Chinese New Year Paintings, or Nianhua in Chinese, are traditional paintings to be put on walls, windows or even wardrobes and stoves during the Spring Festival.
They are characterized by bright colors and scenes of prosperity which endows good wishes.
A town named Yangliuqing in Tianjin is the leading producer of Chinese New Year Painting. More than 70 painting workshops are located there.
Huo Qingyou, a sixth-generation successor of woodcut New Year Pictures, owns a renowned workshop. Painters and workers are especially busy during the Spring Festival.
SOUNDBITE (CHINESE): HUO SHULIN, Huo Qingyou's son
We've sold about two to three thousand New Year Paintings this year. The sales revenue is nearly 10,000 U.S. dollars.
Yangliuqing Woodblock New Year Pictures originated in the Ming dynasty in the 17th century, and flourished in the Qing Dynasty.
They are now part of China's intangible cultural heritage. The woodcut New Year Picture is famous for its unique craftsmanship.
SOUNDBITE (CHINESE): HUO QINGYOU, Artist
Yangliuqing Woodblock New Year Pictures belong to folk culture. Many people like them as the paintings show our real life and the beautiful life which we desire. Yangliuqing pictures are different from the pictures elsewhere: we adopt five techniques - delineation, woodcarving, overprinting, color painting and mounting. Several subjects are typical in the paintings - babies, folk customs, folk tales, ancient ladies, and deity. They represent people's good wishes for the new year and the esteem of their ancestors.
Artists first draw a picture outline on the board, carve along the lines, then they cover the board on papers to print the outline on the paper. Finally they color the pictures and mount them.
Every step requires one craftsman to look after. Thus, a completed New Year Painting is a combination of five people's endeavor.
As each procedure is very sophisticated, many people study one particular skill since childhood and do nothing but this in their whole life.
Now about 600 people in the town are committed themselves to the industry. Each piece of work has very high artistic folklore value.
During the Spring Festival, such pictures are popular presents.
SOUNDBITE (CHINESE): GAO HONGLIANG, Official, Xiqing District, Tianjin
This year, the 70 workshops realized sales revenue of over 10 million U.S. dollars. We hold Yangliuqing Woodblock Painting Festival every year to build a platform for artists to communicate and spread the culture. We also encourage the youth to learn the art at primary, middle schools and colleges.
The Xiqing District government also built a traditional folk culture street to boost the industry' development.
Artists agree that preserving the traditional craftsmanship and promoting it to the world is the priority among priorities.
SOUNDBITE (CHINESE): HUO QINGYOU, Artist
We sell the woodcut New Year Pictures abroad and they are very popular there. Some of the paintings are collected in museums overseas. I have a small museum at home to show pictures, to let more people know Yangjiuqing Paintings and to better protect the cultural heritage.
Celebrations of Lantern Festival held across China
Celebration activities of Chinese Lantern Festival, the 15th day of lunar Chinese Spring Festival, are being held across the country.
Folk processions, with the participation of local artists, are being seen in Datong City, north China's Shanxi Province on Monday.
Thousands of residents living in some old streets are able to watch these local performances and feel the festive atmosphere.
In the city of Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, bags of rice were placed in the shape of sea turtles, representing the sincere wishes of local people to have a good harvest year.
A rice turtle is made of 26,500 kilograms of rice. It is a local custom popular in Fujian and nearby Penghu Islands to the effect that those who touch the rice turtles will have a promising new year.
After the celebration, all rice will be given to locals.
It is a right time to enjoy lanterns on the occasion of the Lantern Festival.
On the Yangliuqing Square in Tianjin Municipality, trees along the roads are bedecked with colorful lanterns.
The topknots on tourists' heads are miniature lanterns, showing happiness of them.
Not only locals but also people from other places came to join in the lantern show.
I came here from Baoding City with my family. It took two hours to drive here. We came here before, but it is better this year, said a tourist from north Hebei Province.
For safety concerns, all vehicles have not been permitted to get to the square.
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Live: 'Real Time China' – Exploring Yangliuqing and its famous New Year’s paintings 杨柳青小镇的年画文化
Yangliuqing is a market town in Tianjin's Xiqing District. Despite its small size, it’s one of the most famous towns in China – thanks to its production of the Yangliuqing New Year’s pictures. Hailed as a treasure of traditional Chinese folk art, Yangliuqing’s wood engraved New Year's paintings are celebrated for their distinctive features and deep symbolism. CGTN’s Lindy Mtongana and Yang Xinmeng take a tour of the Yangliuqing Museum to find out more about the town’s much-loved art.
Virtual tour to Tianjin ancient cultural street-天津古文化街-HD | China travel vlog
Virtual tour to Tianjin ancient cultural street | China travel vlog
Tianjin‘s famed Ancient Culture Street (Guwenhua Jie) is the epicenter for visitors to experience nearly all forms of Chinese folk customs. Situated in the Nankai district and boasting more than a hundred shops in one location, this street officially opened in 1986 with the Tianhou Palace at its center. If you want to know how to get the best out of your visit to this recreation of the Qing dynasty era, read on for our guide to the street’s architecture, souvenir folk crafts, and endless sampling of local delicacies.
Design
Tianjin’s Ancient Culture Street is filled with small booths, shops, and restaurants that are modelled after the independent merchandisers of the Qing dynasty. Pay close attention to these buildings and you’ll see that they’re constructed with ‘blue bricks’ – notice how the windows and doors are decorated with colorfully painted images. These paintings illustrate stories of mythical, legendary and historical figures. Some of these designs reference China’s most recognized classic novels and stories, including The Dream of a Red Mansion and The Song of Eternal Sorrow. Gongbi (Chinese-style drawings of flowers and birds) paintings are also visible throughout the street.
Shopping and entertainment
Antiques
Old-fashioned merchandise is fully on display here. Look for relics of artwork, antiques and old furniture, as well as calligraphy sets dubbed “Four Treasures of Study” (ink stick, brush, paper, and inkstone), not to mention jade jewelry, classic literature, and traditional Chinese New Year paintings.
Folk gifts
Traditional handmade craft souvenirs of the past 300 years include painted clay sculptures of revered icons, illustrated paintings on scrolls, Tianjin Wei kites, carved bricks, dolls and toys, porcelain, and embroidered fabrics.
Leisure venues
Make your way to the open stage in front of Tianhou Palace, and you can see locally-produced drama shows and live performances here for free. Aside from this open-air theater, Ancient Culture Street is full of other entertainment venues, mainly with restaurants and tea houses.
Kiosks and food stands
The street is lined with vendors and is a great place to sample local delicacies and snacks. Look for tomatoes on sticks, and local favorites like tea soup, goubuli steamed dumplings, erduoyan (‘the ear-hole cake’), and fried cakes, as well as roasted sweet potatoes.
Tianhou Palace
This building has a few aliases – “The Queen of Heaven Palace”, “Niangniang Palace” – and is an ancient temple that honors the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu. First constructed in 1326 under the Yuan dynasty, it’s one of the three major surviving Mazu temples in China and was a center to pray for the safety of mariners at sea. It was also a place to honor marines (fishermen, soldiers, sailors) who sacrificed their lives, and was used as a venue for social gatherings. This temple inspired the constructions of other Tianhou palaces across China. Today, various performances are still held here to give thanks to Mazu, as well as an annual celebration held on the Sea Goddess’ birthday.
Annual fair
If you’re lucky enough to be in Tianjin during the week of March 23, ou’ll stumble upon the Huanghui fair. This renowned festival celebrates the birthday of Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea, at Tianhou Palace. The festival has been a fixture since the Qing dynasty and lasts four days. Filled with lion dances, dragon lanterns and stilt performances, make sure you’re on Ancient Culture Street for this one.
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