The Chinese arts and crafts play a very important role in China’s traditional culture. China is famous for its wide variety of arts and crafts with excellent workmanship. They command a big part of the country's rich heritage. Early in the ancient China, the Chinese people had developed a high regard of protecting the excellence in its arts. Today, the Chinese arts and crafts have developed their own unique styles and forms. They are regarded as an elegant combination of precious or special materials with elaborate designs. Up to this point in time, the Chinese Government has done a lot to protect Chinese traditions, so that many could have been handed down through generations. And many are sold abroad to an appreciative overseas market.

Following items are the relative most representative of all Chinese arts and crafts. They are typical symbols of Chinese traditional culture and reflect the lifestyle and beliefs of Chinese people.

Painting

Chinese painting is one of the oldest artistic traditions in the world. The most traditional way of Chinese painting is known as “national” or “native painting” （國(guó)畫）, which is quite different from the Western styles of painting. The artists paint on rice paper or thin silk with brushes, Chinese ink and Chinese painting dye. The main themes of paintings include human figure, landscape, plants and animals. In the 1950s, Chinese artists began to use Western techniques. The Chinese painting started to show a brand new trend and style.

Silk
Silk is a natural protein fibre with a soft and glossy quality. China is the birth place of silk fabrics, with some of the earliest examples found as early as 3,500 BC. In the ancient times, silk was of great importance and value. Only people of high classes were able to use it. However, with the development of silk production and of China’s international trade, silk has become more popular among people worldwide.

Music

Chinese traditional music was born in Zhou Dynasty. At that time, music was just instrumental. The main music instruments used were chimes and bells. Enjoying the music was mainly the right of royal families. In the following dynasties, dancing and singing were gradually added into this form of art, while more and more instruments came into use,

for example Erhu, Pipa and flute. As well as this, religious music was developed. Music has since become a popular interest of the public. Nowadays, there has been much more kinds of music arts in China: national music, pop music, rock music and so on.

Opera

The variety of Chinese operas is reflection of different culture from different areas in China. Beijing Opera, Hebei-Bangzi, Errenzhuan and Qinqiang are most famous in North China, while Sichuan Opera, Yueju and Kunqu are popular among people in South China. As one of the most traditional Chinese arts with more than 800 years of history, opera shows us a great combination of music, literature and art. Listening to the opera can be a really pleasurable experience.

Paper-cuts
Since Cai Lun invented paper, the art of paper-cuts was the first style developed in China. After hundreds of years' development, the paper-cuts have become especially popular amongst women living in the countryside. Chinese paper-cuts have been a traditional form of decoration in China at Chinese New Year and events all year round for thousands of years. By cutting a particular theme inspired by daily life into red paper with scissors or an engraving knife, for example plants, Chinese zodiac animals and some famous Chinese legendary figures, the Chinese people express their good wishes for health, prosperity and happiness in the future.

Embroidery
Embroidery is one of the most precious jewels in Chinese culture. It has a long history since Neolithic age. And because of the quality of silk fibre, most Chinese fine embroideries are made in silk. After the opening of Silk Road in Han Dynasty, the silk production and trade became flourishing. Several major silk embroidery styles had been developed, like Song embroidery (Song Jin 宋錦) in Suzhou, Cloud embroidery (Yun Jin 云錦) in Nanjing and Shu embroidery (Shu Jin 蜀錦) in Sichuan. The major modern embroidery styles are Su embroidery, Xiang embroidery, Yue embroidery and Shu embroidery. Today, in spite of the high developed machinery, some very? intricate productions are still made by hand.

Painting

Chinese painting is one of the oldest artistic traditions in the world. The most traditional way of Chinese painting is known as “national” or “native painting” （國(guó)畫）, which is quite different from the Western styles of painting. The artists paint on rice paper or thin silk with brushes, Chinese ink and Chinese painting dye. The main themes of paintings include human figure,landscape,plants and animals.

In the 1950s, Chinese artists began to use Western techniques. The Chinese painting started to show a brand new trend and style.

Folk Toys

Chinese folk toys are almost as old as the nation itself. They are also the best portrait of the long Chinese history as well as the wisdom and creativity of the Chinese folk. They are not only popular among the children, but also among the adults. These toys show the rustic simplicity and vivacity since they are mainly made from cloth, grass, straw, clay, paper and so on.

In addition to this, the toys symbolise the hopes and desires of the Chinese people and their regard for the younger generations.