Chinese paper cutting, made by you.
Try the online studio, download free printable templates, and learn Chinese paper cutting with step-by-step tutorials.
- 1 Prepare paper
- 2 Make your own cuts
- 3 Unfold & save
Beginner tutorials
Folds, cutting techniques & your first project.
Templates & guides
Patterns, step-by-step help & common questions.
Symbols & stories
Meanings, folklore & the culture behind each cut.
What is Chinese paper cutting?
Chinese paper cutting, or jianzhi, shapes a sheet of paper into patterns by cutting away selected areas. Flowers, animals, and characters can carry wishes for celebrations and everyday life; designs and meanings vary across local traditions.
Explore the art and traditions of jianzhiOne fold.
A whole new possibility.
You don’t need a complicated design to begin. Learn where to fold, what to cut away, and why a small bridge of paper matters.
- 01Fold & find the center line
- 02Cut the outline, keep the connection
- 03Unfold & see the symmetry
Small cuts. Beautiful beginnings.
24 patterns to explore on screen.
Plum Blossom
Printable template + interactive pattern
PDF · SVG
Abundance Fish
Printable template + interactive pattern
PDF · SVG
Fu · Good Fortune
Printable template + interactive pattern
PDF · SVG
Butterfly Wishes
Printable template + interactive pattern
PDF · SVGDownload a practice sheet or start on screen. Each guide includes printable files, cutting instructions, and folding notes.
Every cut leaves
a story.
A flower can carry a wish. A familiar symbol can welcome a new season. Chinese paper cutting connects everyday making with celebration, memory, and place.
Explore the meaningsMeanings depend on the motif, its companions, and local tradition.
A little red.
A warm welcome.
Bring paper cutting into your Lunar New Year preparations: learn about window decorations, explore auspicious motifs, and plan a hands-on afternoon.
Start with the festival guide
A few good questions.
Do I need special paper or tools?
Start with a thin sheet of paper and scissors that you can control comfortably. Folded layers should remain easy to cut. Our first lesson uses one fold and a simple outline.
Can every Chinese character be made by folding?
No. Folding repeats a shape by reflection or rotation. A character such as 福 is not mirror-symmetric; use a correctly oriented full-size design and preserve the connections in the paper.
Why is red paper used for Chinese New Year?
Red paper cuts are often used as festive decorations expressing good wishes. Specific designs and customs vary by region and household; red is not the only color used in Chinese paper cutting.
Can I try it before cutting real paper?
Yes. The studio at the top of this page is ready to use. Follow a pattern or make your own cuts, then unfold your work. The digital studio explores symmetry; it does not yet check whether a real paper design stays connected.