Shenyang City, Northeast China’s Liaoning Province is home to paper pleating, a traditional folk art in China recognized as an intangible heritage. Intrigued by traditional Chinese culture, Anna, a Russian girl studying in Shenyang, visits the inheritor of this craft. What kind of exciting experience will she have? Will she succeed in her first attempt at this “fingertip magic”?

Various craftworks are created by using folded papers with evenly spaced pleats and desired curvature. Moreover, the entire process is done manually. Works done in this way contain strong three-dimensionality and unique aesthetic value. Li Xue, the inheritor of the Li’s traditional paper pleating of Shenyang, demonstrates the exquisite art to Anna as she introduces the process.

“The history of paper pleating can be dated back to 1890. Among the six steps, namely material selecting, paper cutting, pleating, shaping, pasting, and assembling, pleating is the most complicated.” An ordinary piece of paper is constantly reshaped in Li Xue’s hands as if her nimble fingertips were dancing with the flipping paper. Anna is so attracted to this “fingertip magic” that she decides to challenge herself to make paper pleats.  

“My hands are no longer my own!” Anna soon realizes how difficult it is after her first attempt at paper pleating. “To create such beautiful crafts requires a lot of time to practice. But it’s worth doing!” Each work is unique because it is hand-made. A sense of proud bursts in the heart of Anna as she wears the customized work, a pingankou-shaped “amulet” adorned with the images from Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair with Flowers. 

One by one, small pieces of paper are transformed into vivid and lifelike three-dimensional works, leaving Anna in awe. This experience brings Anna closer to the intangible cultural heritage of Liaoning and makes her even more passionate and fascinated with Chinese culture.