A chip off the old block

A fifth-generation artisan from Hubei province is working hard to keep the craft of traditionally printed New Year paintings alive, Wang Kaihao reports.

As Spring Festival nears, Chen Hongbin prepares for the busiest time of his year.

Deftly manipulating a carving knife, the 43-year-old man from Laohekou, a county-level city in Xiangyang, Hubei province, is immersed in the craftsmanship of his work. The woodblock prints, which duplicate auspicious New Year paintings, have become his way of welcoming another year.

"Local people here recognize them as cultural icons," says Chen proudly. "They still 'invite' these paintings into their home for Spring Festival. It's a tradition.