Chinese paper-cutting joined UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
Chinese paper-cutting is a folk art made by cutting or engraving designs into paper. Artisans create symmetrical motifs, figures, animals, flowers, and scenes of daily life using scissors or knives. Red paper is especially associated with festive decoration, although other colors and materials are also used.
The craft is practiced across many parts of China and appears in seasonal celebrations, weddings, and household decoration. Designs can carry auspicious meanings, such as happiness, longevity, fertility, or good fortune. Regional styles differ in line quality, subject matter, and cutting methods.
UNESCO’s 2009 inscription recognizes paper-cutting as a living community tradition rather than merely an old decorative technique. It is sometimes confused with paper folding or silhouette work, but paper-cutting specifically depends on cutting or engraving the paper to create the image.