Chance accepted

Yin is just one of several young people who have found their calling at the cultural park.

For example, Cui Zhenshuo and one of his friends have opened a shop in the park that sells handmade paper.

When administrative officials from the park saw one of Cui's paper exhibitions in Beijing, they offered him the chance to open a business at the park, which Cui readily accepted.

"My business partner and I both grew up in Beijing, and we are into the hutong atmosphere," said Cui, who believes the traditional setting can help his small shop serve as "something of a museum" for visitors.

The business displays more than 500 types of paper that he and his team have collected from different parts of the country.

"We want more people to realize that our country has preserved a rich variety of paper, and many craftsmen are still committing themselves to this inheritance," said Cui, who is in his 30s.

"More importantly, this paper represents the diverse cultures of various regions and ethnicities across the nation," Cui said.

In particular, customers appreciate Dian paper from Yunnan province.

"It's made from the bark of local plants in the ethnic mountainous area, and the surface of this paper has a kind of glossiness, which looks extremely beautiful in sunlight," Cui said.

The shop also displays a type of paper from the Tibet autonomous region. "It is very sturdy and has excellent resilience," Cui said.

"When this paper is rolled up, it's difficult to flatten it. Even if you try hard to unfold it, it immediately springs back to its original position as soon as you release it," he added.

Cui attributes this characteristic to the plants in the high-altitude region.

Due to its durability, this paper is mainly used for printing local Buddhist scriptures and images of Buddha, Cui said.

In addition to displaying paper, the shop features paper lanterns of various shapes and sizes. They are made from huacao (flower and grass) paper that is mostly decorative and also used for wallpaper, umbrellas and bookmarks.

This type of paper, which retains the colors of the plants from which it is made, is among those that Cui and his partner found during their visits to production sites.

"The paper is basically produced in the depths of the mountains, which are home to the necessary raw materials and water sources," Cui said.

"The artisans we spoke to do not readily communicate with the outside world, so we feel the need to spread their craftsmanship and culture."

Although the internet has played a positive role in spreading Chinese culture, Cui thinks that to better experience these handmade products, visitors to his business need to touch the paper to get a real feel for it.

"We will try to display more handmade paper, and we hope that by appreciating our collection of paper, more people can understand its value and use it in daily life," Cui said.

"We will also strive to promote and preserve the memories and stories behind this paper to enable more people to appreciate China's rich traditional culture."