Age-old art form gets new lease on life

"Women are charming with long hair, and it took a lot of courage to cut it," Ji said. She created a paper-cut work to illustrate the image, in which a nurse has regained her long hair. She named the piece The Angel in Harm's Way.

She also made paper-cuts of people from other walks of life who fought on the front line. Basic information about epidemic prevention and control, including hand-washing routines and good ventilation, were incorporated in the design to foster awareness of healthy habits.

To promote the paper-cutting culture, Ji regularly teaches in communities and nursing homes. Also, she often visits rural areas to learn about local paper-cutting customs and draw more inspiration.

"The paper-cutting art comes from the people and it should return to the people," she said.

Ji has 12 students, ages 3 to 23. "They discovered an interest in paper-cutting and came to me to learn how to do it," she said, adding that she often encourages her students to create works based on a younger mind set. "I am optimistic about the future of the craft. The younger generation has a real sense of cultural heritage."

She practices her skills every day, and her works hang in her studio and appear in every corner of her home. She has also learned to share her work on the video-sharing platform Douyin, known in the West as TikTok, to expand her audience.

"Choose one thing and love it for a lifetime," she said, employing a saying she likes and always strives to practice.

Liao Yifan, Gao Yaman, Li Yifan, Xing Zuyi in Turpan contributed to the story.