Yao Zhengquan, a 72-year-old inheritor of wood-engraving pictures in Xingren town, Tongzhou district in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, recently received his first order from Taiwan.

According to Yao, two printmaking artists from Taiwan have ordered 3,600 art works.

Wood-engraving pictures used to be especially significant during the Chinese New Year as every family would replace its old pictures with new ones as a way of bidding goodbye to the past and welcoming the future.

The art, usually printed using woodblock techniques, is usually themed on gods, opera characters, lucky items, and fairytales.

Due to the complex wood-engraving process and the fast adoption of new printing technologies, few people are willing to learn about the traditional techniques today.

Yao learned the techniques from his grandfather and father and has been working on wood-engraving pictures for more than 40 years.

His works are popular in Nantong and have even been purchased by many outsiders.

To complete the works required for this order from Taiwan as soon as possible, Yao makes nearly 100 pieces every day.

"Although the process is complex and the work is hard, I feel excited to spread Nantong traditional culture to the other side of the straits," Yao added.

Yao Zhengquan makes wood-engraving pictures. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Yao Zhengquan shows off his wood-engraving work. [Photo/ourjiangsu.com]

Wood-engraving pictures created by Yao Zhengquan. [Photo/ourjiangsu.com]