Originating in the northern area of Southwest China's Sichuan province and centering on Huanma town of Guangyuan city’s Cangxi county, Huanma Paper Cutting is a folk art that has unique artistic value. It is so popular that local people from all walks of life participate in this activity on important occasions such as weddings, funerals, festivals and celebrations of childbirth. The paper cuts cover a wide range of subject matters, including birds and flowers, auspicious Chinese idioms, and gods and deities. They are pasted inside and outside the house, praying for luck, wealth and abundance.

Villagers of Huanma town doing paper cuts in their yard [Photo provided to govt.chinadaily.com.cn]

According to the Gazetteer of Cangxi County, Huanma town (which means "calling back the horse" in Chinese) was previously called "Zhulinxi." Legend has it that Zhang Fei, the third-century general from the Shu Kingdom, once halted his horse to get some rest on his way to assume office in Langzhong. While resting, he was so attentively watching a peasant woman cutting paper that he lost his horse. Eventually, he retrieved his horse in Zhulinxi. A craftsman recorded this story with paper cuttings, resulting in the town taking on the moniker "Huanma," which is still in use today.

Integrating the wildness of northern China and the elegance of southern China, the brilliantly designed Huanma Paper Cuttings encompass various themes and embody rich local customs. After more than 1,700 years of evolution, there have emerged many intelligent and diligent inheritors who have developed multiple forms of folk arts. The exquisite paper-cutting art epitomizes the happy and fulfilling life of Huanma people and constitutes an indispensable part of their daily life.

A Huanma Paper Cutting work illustrating a new-era countryside scene [Photo provided to govt.chinadaily.com.cn]

Huanma Paper Cutting also brings about wealth and prosperity to the local villagers. A dozen paper-cutting artists have managed to transform the art form into a lucrative business. Some peasants have also set up folk art businesses and made a profit.

Home to this outstanding folk art, Huanma town has been named the "Hometown of Chinese folk culture and art" twice by the Ministry of Culture. In 2007, Huanma Paper Cutting was listed among the first group of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage items.