Yangliuqing New Year prints from Tianjin's Yangliuqing town are quite different in temperament. In one, a well-dressed woman with a long pipe in hand sits beside a short-legged table, on which there is a red vase of plum blossoms.

To fully convey her elegance, the late Qing Dynasty painting makes use of soft colors and delicate lines, with gold powder used to pick out her jewelry, buttons and pipe, Sun says.

By way of contrast, New Year woodblock prints from Wuqiang county, which are an item of national intangible cultural heritage, are known for their rustic aesthetic.