Yao Hongxia, a paper-cutting artist from Baotou, demonstrates a range of paper-cutting techniques at Baotous's University for the Elderly, Mar 30. The school offers classes on paper-cutting and hopes to teach the useful and artistic techniques to elderly residents. It was recently chosen by China Folk Paper-cutting Research Society as the training base in Baotou city to popularize the art form.

Paper-cutting is one of the most important folk arts in China, with a history that can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). Baotou paper-cutting is one kind of Chinese paper-cutting and it incorporates grassland and nomadic culture into the art form. Baotou paper-cutting was listed as part of China’s cultural heritage in 2010. [Photo/Baotou Daily]