China boasts many arts and crafts that are collected worldwide. They fall into two categories: special and folk.

Special arts usually use expensive raw materials and fine workmanship. They include ivory carving, jade carving, stone sculpture. Many of them are priceless, constituting part of the treasure house of the Chinese nation.

Ivory: Ivory carving appeared in China more than 3,000 years ago and became the vogue after the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century. These are exquisitely carved into natural scenery, animals and other shapes. Because of the need to protect wild animals, animal bones are increasingly being used as substitutes.

Jade carving: Craftsmen use the natural texture, luster and color of jade rocks to give full play to the attraction of nature.

Lacquerware: Utensils made with pure lacquer and carved with various patterns. Elegant decorative, these are used as vases, jars, or screens.

Stone carving: Great care is taken to obtain precious rocks such as agalmatolite to carve the desired patterns.

Cloisonné: Coated with gold and silver, the inlaid copper wires shine brilliantly. Cloisonné can be preserved for a long time.

Folk arts and crafts also boast a long history and popular appeals. These include paper-cuts, weaving, embroidery, sculpture and painting.

Paper is the medium of several folk crafts: paper-cuts, silhouette, paper folds, paper sculpture and shadow play. Paper is also used with silk in the making of kites and lanterns.

In weaving, straws and stalks are used to make shoe pads, pillows, purses and etc. Cotton is dyed, printed on, and woven into different styles and patterns. In embroidery, Jiangsu, Hunan, Guangdong and Sichuan represent the top four styles most popular in China. In sculpture, bamboo, wood, kernels, jade, rock, horns, and bones can all be used for carving masks, puppet heads, figurines, and animals. Another style of sculpture is using flour, clay, and pottery to make toys and other figures. Another widely-used technique is painting by finger, impression, patching or ironing.

In the past, these folk crafts were looked down upon by the elite scholar-officials. Today, they are part of the Chinese heritage that has won respect and admiration from people the world over.