Paper-cut is a time-honored Chinese folk art. In the past, people used to post red-colored paper-cut works on doors, windows or furniture as decoration, hoping to keep from evils and enjoy happy life.

Nowadays, artisans endow the folk art with more colorful ideas and modern interpretations. Much more complicated designs of paper-cut have been created by a pair of skillful hands, paper and scissors.

I visited the paper-cut shop on the second floor of Baigong Handicraft Museum. Walking into the shop, I was shocked that a thin piece of paper could be turned into such delicate artworks with shapes of landscape, ancient characters, birds and flower...

I like the Chinese Zodiac bookmarks very much. The twelve animals look vividly and lovely. A set costs only RMB 38.

The owner, also a paper-cut master, introduced that most of the items in the shop are under RMB 100. And you can still negotiate with the owner.