City: Shanghai
Chinese paper cutting and sugar painting are classic intangible cultural heritage folk arts popular in the Jiangnan region around Shanghai. This combined workshop brings these two traditional crafts together for international youth and adult visitors. The session begins with a bilingual introduction about the history and cultural meaning of paper cuttings, which are often used for Chinese New Year decorations and wedding ornaments. Patterns such as flowers, fish and Chinese characters carry wishes for good luck and prosperity.
First, participants learn paper cutting. Under the guidance of a folk master, students fold red paper and cut out delicate patterns with small scissors. After finishing paper-cut artworks, the group moves on to sugar painting. The master melts malt sugar and pours the liquid sugar onto a stone board, drawing dragons, phoenixes and animals in one smooth motion. Every student gets a chance to try drawing simple sugar patterns, and they can eat their finished sugar painting as a tasty treat. All paper-cut works can be taken home as souvenirs.
PandaStudyTour organises the full folk art workshop. We book quiet studio venues, arrange bilingual heritage craftsmen, prepare paper, scissors, malt sugar and all craft supplies. We simplify patterns for younger students while offering more complex designs for older teenagers and university groups. This workshop can be integrated into your Shanghai study tour, school exchange or Mandarin summer camp itinerary, giving overseas visitors a wonderful hands-on taste of traditional Chinese folk art.
