Qidong printmaking has its roots in woodcut works found in newspapers in the 1930s. In the late 1950s, an amateur woodcutting group known as "Sawdust Flower" was established, and since then printmaking in Qidong has been developing rapidly. In 1985, China's first printmaking institute – the Qidong Printmaking Institute – was established, officially turning the art into a professional and academic discipline.

China's first printmaking institute – the Qidong Printmaking Institute – in Qidong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Printmaking works are exhibited at the Qidong Printmaking Institute in Qidong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Atta Ul. Mustafa, from Pakistan, experiences Qidong printmaking at the Qidong Printmaking Institute in Qidong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Mukesh Mohanan from India shows his printmaking work at the Qidong Printmaking Institute. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]