Fan Jimei, an inheritor of Tancheng wood-cut toys, cuts the wood with a traditional lathe, which is not commonly used in toy factories in Shandong province. [Photo/Xinhua]     

Tancheng wood-cut toys are a traditional handicraft, originating in Southern Shandong province. Its long history is also rich in local flavor. In 2014, it was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In the villages near Tancheng, a county in Southern Shandong province, wood in different lengths and thickness is used for the building material. People cut out the shape of a toy with a lathe, and follow a succession of steps to polish, color and finish the item. The toys' pattern designs are inspired by local myths and folk tales.

Using a traditional Chinese brush, Fan Zhanmei paints a wooden car in the shape of a swallow. [Photo/Xinhua]   

Up to now, Tancheng wood-cutt toys were classified into 10 categories with more than 600 varieties in pattern design, including traditional types based on facial makeup in Peking Opera, disks with patterns of the Eight Immortals of legend, tiger-head mallets, wooden cars in the shape of a swallow and sundries like baskets as well as wooden bowls.

Local folk artists are still eager to innovate and explore new productions to carry forward the traditional technology and adapt to the new market demand.

Fan Zhanmei shows his wood-cuttoys with pleasure. [Photo/Xinhua]

Fan Zhanmei tells local children about the history and manufacturing process of the toys. [Photo/Xinhua]

Yang Lan, a villiger from Fannian Village near Tancheng County, colors a drum-shaped wooden rattle. [Photo/Xinhua]

In Yang Lan's house, several partly-finished productions lay on the table, waiting for coloring. [Photo/Xinhua]

A child in Fannian Village curiously examines a group of wood-cut toys. [Photo/Xinhua]