Famous print artist Wang Shaotang on the paper-cutting work.[Photo/Xinhua]

NEW LIFE FOR OLD FOLK ART

As Chinese enjoy a modern and prosperous life, folk art is seeing a resurgence.

"This year, we sold 10,000 desk calendars with double roosters and thousands of paper-cuts," said Zhang Duotang, a master of the traditional paper-cutting art in Guangling, Shanxi.

The art has been handed down over generations in Guangling.

"This year is the Year of the Rooster, or 'ji' in Chinese. Ji is a homonym of another Chinese character meaning 'auspicious'," said Zhang.

He designed dozens of rooster paper-cuts with the help of the Internet. "They are very popular among the younger generation," he added.

Chinese Lunar New Year, which this year is the Year of the Rooster, began Saturday.