He Linxiang shows off his rat lanterns. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

He Linxiang, a craftsman in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, has been busy making traditional lanterns in preparation for the Chinese New Year.

His home is covered in lantern-making materials and rat lanterns, which are meant to welcome the upcoming Year of the Rat.

Most of the lanterns are red or dark blue and adorned with intricate paper-cutting patterns featuring bats, vases, coins and gourds, which represent luck, peace, fortune, and unity in traditional Chinese culture.

"Later I plan to make lanterns depicting Chinese folk tales involving rats," said He.

The 68-year-old is the fourth-generation inheritor of Nantong-style lanterns, which date back to the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

As early as 1915, the lantern won a gold award at the Panama Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco, the United States. Since then, it has been showcased in a number of overseas exhibitions and has gained global popularity.

The lantern was also included in the first list of cultural items under provincial protection in 1997, He proudly proclaimed.