Guangling paper-cutting wins worldwide recognition

[Photo/CGTN]

However, Zhang has decided to do something about it. He organized his family members, brothers and sisters, trying to explore new ways to revive this traditional skill.

In 1999, with the support of the local government, Zhang began to promote Guangling paper-cutting. He hired many paper-cutting artists, and they started to produce according to market demands.

Meanwhile, with the help of computer design, there is now more content available. Besides keeping up with the market demand, Zhang Duotang has also improved his production techniques.

Now, their paper cuttings depict cultural relics, scenic spots, characters, and famous paintings. Other products include stamps, scroll paintings and picture frames.

In 2007, Zhang began to build the Guangling paper-cutting cultural industry park, investing more than 45 million yuan ($6.7 million) into the project. He also built China's first Guangling paper-cutting art museum and a vocational training school, setting up a paper-cutting industry chain in the process.