In the previous period of the relative scarcity of living subsistence, many women in Baotou transformed old newspapers and other recycling items into paper baskets, which added romance to life.

This old Chinese word "made of paper" usually describes how flimsy something is, but in actuality, the paper basket is very durable. It can carry loads of clothes, rice grains, needles, threads, and more.

However, the paper basket was retreating from life now because of the abundant living subsistence. It has become an intangible cultural heritage as a folk art of painted paper sculpture.

"I just realized one day that I was only seeing paper baskets in the museum. This good thing shouldn't be allowed to depart from our lives," said Wang Liyun, an inheritor of painted paper sculpture.

Wang decorates the uncompleted paper sculpture. [Photo/Baotou news network]

In the 1980s, Wang began to preserve the old paper baskets in Baotou. According to the data she collected from daily surveys in the countryside, she compiled detailed making craft texts of painted paper sculptures and successfully restored hundreds of paper basketworks of different shapes and materials.

Wang cuts paper for decorating the paper sculpture. [Photo/Baotou news network]

Making paper baskets needs to use a variety of crafts, like paper-cutting, sewing, and drawing. A complete paper basket would often take 10 to 15 days from the beginning.

During these years, Wang has participated in many folk-art competitions in Baotou and Inner Mongolia autonomous region and won numerous awards. She also went to many schools to teach students traditional culture and skills.

The paper baskets are shown in Wang's painted paper sculpture studio. [Photo/Baotou news network]