A chip off the old block

Editor's note: Beijing is co-hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics with Zhangjiakou in Hebei province. From culture and cuisine to tourism and the arts, we take you to the attractions in these areas of North China for an unforgettable stay.

As the oldest artisan of the Yangliuqing woodblock prints workshop affiliated with Tianjin Yangliuqing Fine Arts Press group, Wang Wenda, 77, has been busy preparing for another Spring Festival.

Wielding his self-made carving knife, Wang immerses himself, day after day, in crafting items for one of the most renowned Chinese New Year picture brands.

"Oh, it has been over 60 years," says Wang, who seems to have hardly noticed the time passing during his working life.

The Yangliuqing woodblock print has a history of about four centuries, starting in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The name, which literally means "the willow is green", refers to a small town on the outskirts of Tianjin that is said to be the birthplace of this style of woodblock printing.

In 1958, when attempts were made to gather dispersed woodblock printing artisans in a bid to save the endangered technique, a new publicly owned workshop was established in downtown Tianjin. Wang was among the first to join the workshop in 1960.

"I was recruited as a painter because I loved painting as a child," he recalls. "However, the carving department lacked people, and I was soon assigned to it."

He remains in the role to this day.