There are many kinds of New Year pictures in China, of which the Yangliuqing woodlock pictures are the most famous. They have been a popular New Year decoration in China since the early part of the 17th century. They are put on walls, doors and items of furniture to usher in good fortune and happiness.

These New Year pictures show a rich variety of themes. The most valuable pieces are those that portray life in the Qing Dynasty, such as New Year preparations, greetings, weddings and harvests. But a large member of the pictures depict chubby children at play, beautiful ladies and scenes from ancient novels and tales.

The Yangliuqing New Year paintings, which originated at the end of the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644), employ woodcutting, hand drawing and process-printing painting as its techniques.

Early woodblock artists all lived in Yangliuqing, a small town west of Tianjin, thus Yangliuqing became the brand name for their products. After 1949, many of their woodlocks were destroyed because they featured illustrations of love-making. In 1955, the Ministry of Culture provided money to revive the traditional art. Today, the Yangliuqing Art Society has a workshop with 300 artists and craftsmen.