[Video/Nantong Daily]

With the Lunar New Year approaching, a festive atmosphere is gradually building up in Nantong, Jiangsu province.

A boy shows off his golden fish-shaped sugar painting. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Over 50 students from schools such as Zhaohui Primary School and No 1 Primary School Attached to Nantong Normal College recently visited the Chinese Charity Museum to experience sugar painting, a traditional intangible cultural heritage item.

A girl shows off her butterfly-shaped sugar painting. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Tradition has it that sugar painting originated in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when folk artisans created the handicraft work receiving inspiration from paper-cutting and shadow puppetry. With lifelike appearance and sweet taste, it quickly became popular with children on festive occasions, explained Shi Jianfeng, an inheritor of the sugar painting making techniques in Nantong.

Shi Jianfeng instructs a boy on how to make a sugar painting. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Following his explanation, Shi demonstrated how to draw a sugar painting. Holding a long spoon full of melted sugar, he effortlessly painted a rabbit, golden dragon, and exquisite flower basket in quick succession, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from his little students.

The children could not wait to make their own sugar painting and, guided by Shi, they all had their wishes fulfilled.