Chongqing - The Chengdu World University Games are just around the corner, and the orders for paper-rolling products from the Yanjiang Cultural Creativity Studio have significantly increased. Artisans with disabilities are now busy creating these unique paper-rolling products for the Games.
Artisans with disabilities from the Yanjiang Cultural Creativity Studio are now busy creating these unique paper-rolling products for the FISU World University Games. (Photo/Wang Xiao)
Among the studio's recent focus are the "Rongbao" and "Emblem" paper-rolling crafts, which have been selected as official merchandise for the World University Games.
The "Rongbao" and "Emblem" paper-rolling crafts have been selected as official merchandise for the World University Games. (Photo/Wang Xiao)
Paper-rolling, or "Yanzhi" as it's known in Chinese, is a unique form of paper art. By rolling slender strips of paper into circles with specialized tools, artisans create intricate, small "parts." These individual parts are combined to form complex and distinct patterns, enabling a wide range of artistic expressions.
The Yanjiang Cultural Creativity Studio is home to over 30 full-time artisans and over 60 part-time employees with disabilities. The studio was born out of a series of skill training programs organized by the Wenjiang Disabled Persons' Federation in 2016, and it registered its brand in 2020.
The studio's exquisitely crafted paper-rolling artworks first became international prominence at the Chengdu Public Welfare Handicraft Franchise Commodity Conference in 2020. On December 3, 2020, to commemorate the 29th International Day of Disabled Persons, the FISU World University Games endorsed and supported Yanjiang Studio's initiative to develop culturally creative handicrafts infused with elements of the World University Games.
Wang Linjiang, a talented craftsman at the Yanjiang studio, expressed his pride at having the opportunity to showcase their work on a global platform. Wang crafted a paper-rolling emblem for the Chengdu World University Games, which was then presented as a gift to Reno Eide, the acting chairman of FISU, by the people of Chengdu.
The studio's two flagship paper-rolling products, "Emblem" and "Rongbao," retail at 68 yuan (about 9.4 U.S. dollars) each and are available for purchase through the Chengdu World University souvenir mini program. While it takes around one hour to craft the "Emblem" and two hours for the "Rongbao," Wang Linjiang can produce six or seven pieces daily, selling each for approximately 100 yuan. Over the two years since becoming official merchandise, these products have sold around 150,000 units.
Paper-rolling art was selected as the primary product due to its accessibility and ease of mastery for individuals with disabilities. This form of cultural creativity has become a vital pathway for these individuals to realize their dreams, enhance their employment prospects, and improve their overall quality of life.
Nearly 1,000 individuals with disabilities reside in the Gongping Street community, with over 100 participating in the paper-rolling training program. These artisans enjoy flexible working conditions; some work from cultural creativity bases, while others work from their homes. The finished products are sold through a mix of online and offline channels, including 15 licensed stores and online marketplaces nationwide.
In just over three years, the studio has generated an income exceeding 13 million yuan, significantly improving the financial status of disabled artisans. On average, each person involved in designing and producing paper-rolling cultural creativity products has seen their monthly income increase by approximately 1,600 yuan, with high-production individuals earning over 10,000 yuan per month.
(Guo Juntao, as an intern, also contributed to the report.)