Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Mayiguli Ayitihazi; Intern Aerna) news: On January 30, 2026, Bai Liling, the representative inheritor of paper-cutting (carved paper-cutting) — a municipal-level intangible cultural heritage representative item in Urumqi, delivered her new work to the Xinjiang Art Museum. The horse-themed piece will be on display at the 13th Xinjiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Custom Exhibition for Celebrating the Spring Festival and the 1st Xinjiang Traditional Craft Exhibition.

Carved paper-cutting is a plastic art that creates a three-dimensional effect with concave and convex textures by cutting, folding, curling and pasting paper layer by layer, integrating the beauty of painting and sculpture. Each exquisitely crafted carved paper-cutting work, imbued with traditional charm, is an indispensable part of the festive decor for the Spring Festival every year.

Photo shows Bai Liling, the representative inheritor of paper-cutting (carved paper-cutting), a municipal-level intangible cultural heritage representative item in Urumqi. (Photo provided by Bai Liling)

"It was my mother who planted the seed of my bond with carved paper-cutting," Bai Liling said with a smile. When she was in primary school, her mother was often invited by fellow villagers to cut paper-cuttings with auspicious characters and "pomegranate basin flowers" that symbolize prosperity and many children. Watching red paper turn into exquisite patterns under her mother's fingertips, a love for the craft quietly took root in her heart. She began to try her hand at creation in high school, later studied systematically under Xu Naizheng, a master of Xinjiang arts and crafts and representative inheritor of paper-cutting intangible cultural heritage, and even went to north China's Hebei Province and Shanghai for further study. Bai Liling has forged a firm and solid path in paper-cutting step by step.

Talking about the breakthrough in her craftsmanship, Bai Liling has a profound memory of her further study in Shanghai. "Guided by my teacher there, I began to experiment with three-dimensional paper-cutting." After returning from her studies, she devoted herself to in-depth research and successively launched a series of works featuring the Chinese zodiac and Xinjiang's 5A-level scenic spots, making paper-cuttings "stand up" from flat surfaces with more rich and vibrant colors.

Creating three-dimensional carved paper-cuttings is far more difficult than one can imagine. "Flat paper-cutting is a quick process, but three-dimensional ones are a different story. Layer upon layer of paper needs to be stacked, with careful consideration for the overall effect, color matching and more — even the slightest flaw in the layering is unacceptable, so revisions and polishing are often repeated," Bai Liling admitted. As someone who did not major in fine arts, she draws relatively slowly, which has also endowed her with more perseverance than others. "Every work is polished over and over again. It's tiring, but the moment I see the finished product, all the hard work is worthwhile."

Photo shows works by Bai Liling. (Photo provided by Bai Liling)

From only being able to create monochrome paper-cuttings at the beginning, to exploring the techniques of watercolor wash and color-blocking paper-cuttings, and now innovating three-dimensional carved paper-cuttings, Bai Liling has continued to explore and break new ground on the road of inheriting intangible cultural heritage. Her carved paper-cutting works feature full compositions, rich layers, exquisite and delicate cutting skills, and harmonious and elegant color matching, all of which highlight their unique artistic charm.

Seventeen years of meticulous craftsmanship have been condensed into every single work. One of Bai Liling's most satisfying works is “The prosperous scenery of Turpan”. This 5-meter-long set of works connects scenic spots such as the Grape Valley, Karez Wells and the Jiaohe Ruins, with 13 layers of paper and more than 100 meters of light strips woven inside, exuding a strong festive and lively atmosphere when lit up. "Paper-cutting exists all over the country with similar techniques, but our characteristic lies in cutting the magnificent scenery of Xinjiang — such as the Tianshan Mountains and Kanas Lake — and the happy scenes of people of all ethnic groups singing and dancing into our works."

Bai Liling has always kept the word "inheritance" firmly in mind. Over the years, she has insisted on participating in activities to bring intangible cultural heritage into campuses, visiting many schools including Urumqi No.135 Primary School, and often takes part in public welfare training sessions organized by literary and artistic volunteer teams, bringing carved paper-cutting into more people's lives.

"Without innovation, intangible cultural heritage loses its vitality." Bai Liling has always strived for innovation while adhering to tradition. The carved paper-cuttings under her hands have achieved a leap from monochrome to polychrome, from flat to three-dimensional, and she has even created works with a naked-eye 3D effect, which not only retain traditional charm but also conform to modern aesthetic tastes. To her delight, with the country's promotion of the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage and its popularization on campuses, more and more young people have fallen in love with carved paper-cutting, injecting fresh blood into the inheritance of this craft.

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