Chinese folk arts such as paper-cutting, clay moulding, kite making and Tibetan tongka making (silk or satin scroll painting), are part of the country's intangible cultural heritage. And, folk artists are important components of a country's intangible cultural heritage because they play an important role in ensuring its survival.

Take dough sculp for example. All of detailed sculptures are made from dough, which is made by dough sculp artists whose magical hands have given life to them. The earliest dough sculptures discovered date back to the Han Dynasty nearly two thousand years ago. Throughout the ages, dough sculptures have been made as sacrifices for the gods and ancestors and were eaten after the ceremony. Even today, in some rural areas in China's northwest, the custom continues to be handed down. But it wasn't treated as a type of art until the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, about three hundred years ago.

The first step is to choose the flour - white, fine and the most flexible when made into dough - otherwise the sculptures will easily crack. Then add some sticky rice, to make it stickier. And some honey, as an antiseptic and to prevent cracking. Then cook it. Traditionally, it's boiled. But some artists prefer braising it, like steamed bread. Then knead it until it's soft. As far as color is concerned, you can use the pigments from traditional Chinese ink and wash paintings, poster colors, gouache or water colors. All are OK.

You can meet artists who came of age during China's turbulent times of the 60's and 70's. These artists have a wide range of expertise including dough sculp, cloth affixture, Chinese knotting, silk sculp, kite, paper-cutting, sand painting, prograph and snuff bottle inside painting.

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