STORY: Pakistani student explores time-honored beauty of woodblock prints in China's Tianjin
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 13, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 18, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:38
LOCATION: TIANJIN, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): AURANG ZEB, Pakistani student at Nankai University
2. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): FENG ZIZHU, Docent of Tianjin Yangliuqing Woodblock Prints Museum
3. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): FENG ZIZHU, Docent of Tianjin Yangliuqing Woodblock Prints Museum
4. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): AURANG ZEB, Pakistani student at Nankai University
5. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): AURANG ZEB, Pakistani student at Nankai University
6. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): WANG YAN, Inheritor of Yangliuqing woodblock printing
7. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): WANG YAN, Inheritor of Yangliuqing woodblock printing
8. SOUNDBITE 8 (English): AURANG ZEB, Pakistani student at Nankai University
9. SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): WANG YAN, Inheritor of Yangliuqing woodblock printing
10. SOUNDBITE 10 (English): AURANG ZEB, Pakistani student at Nankai University

STORYLINE:

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): AURANG ZEB, Pakistani student at Nankai University
"Hello everyone. My name is Zeb, from Pakistan. I'm currently studying at Nankai University. I've been living in Tianjin for 6 years. Tianjin is a great city because this city is a perfect blend of history and culture. One great example is the Yangliuqing woodblock prints. Let's see how this ancient art is still thriving."

The Yangliuqing woodblock painting was one of the most popular forms of New Year decorations in China.

The crafts were listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in 2006.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): FENG ZIZHU, Docent of Tianjin Yangliuqing Woodblock Prints Museum
"The Yangliuqing woodblock prints, originating from the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), boast a rich history of over 400 years. These prints are renowned for their vibrant colors and exquisite details. They are a cultural symbol of Tianjin."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): FENG ZIZHU, Docent of Tianjin Yangliuqing Woodblock Prints Museum
"Creating Yangliuqing woodblock prints involves four main steps: outlining, carving, printing, and coloring. The tools we see here are used for each of these steps."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): AURANG ZEB, Pakistani student at Nankai University
"After seeing so many great paintings, I want to try it myself. Let's check it out. Like this? Okay. Perfect."

At the Tianjin Yangliuqing Woodblock Painting Studio, more than 20 skilled artisans are devoted to crafting traditional prints. In December 2022, the studio launched a project to revive and rejuvenate ancient woodblocks.

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): AURANG ZEB, Pakistani student at Nankai University
"So this is an ancient woodblock. How do you use this to make paintings?"

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): WANG YAN, Inheritor of Yangliuqing woodblock printing
"This ancient woodblock has a history of several hundred years. We no longer have access to its original color scheme. By studying the color patterns of old prints, we aim to recreate and revive the woodblock, making it usable in our everyday life."

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): WANG YAN, Inheritor of Yangliuqing woodblock printing
"Here's one of the six paintings we've created for the first batch of the project to revive ancient woodblocks."

SOUNDBITE 8 (English): AURANG ZEB, Pakistani student at Nankai University
"Wow, this looks exquisite. The colors and details on this one are amazing."

SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): WANG YAN, Inheritor of Yangliuqing woodblock printing
"This painting restores two colors commonly used in ancient Yangliuqing woodblock prints: blue and red. The blue is very profound and elegant. The red is vivid without being harsh, helping to illuminate and enhance the other colors in the painting."

SOUNDBITE 10 (English): AURANG ZEB, Pakistani student at Nankai University
"Today's visit has been a truly enlightening experience. The details of the works are a testament to the true passion and skill of the artists. It's clear that China places great value on preserving its intangible cultural heritage. And I hope more people will have the opportunity to appreciate the significance of this art."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tianjin, China.
(XHTV)