New Year Pictures of Zhuxian Town

Zhuxian Town is a famous New Year Pictures producer in central China's Henan province. The town, 23 kilometers from Kaifeng, was established during the Warring States Period (475-221BC), by the name of the famous general Zhu Hai of the Wei State. In the period from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the middle of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Zhuxian Town was one of the four most famous towns in China. And among China's four most famous New Year Picture producers, Zhuxian is the oldest (the other three being Yangliuqing in Tianjin, Wuqiang City in Hebei province and Weifang in Shandong province).

The pictures printed with woodblocks in Zhuxian Town are very popular due to their bright color, exaggerated images, rough lines and full compositions. Every year on the ninth day of the lunar ninth month, Zhuxian Town holds a New Year Picture fair to commemorate its anniversary. It is also the day to start the printing of its New Year Pictures. In the past, operas used to be performed for nine days in front of the temples of Lord Guan and General Yue Fei. Then all workshops kicked off for business.