Shi Junfeng (first right) shows papercutting art abroad.

At the northern foot of the beautiful Yanshan Mountain and the southern edge of the Inner Mongolian Plateau lies Fengning, a small county surrounded by mountains. This picturesque area is part of Hebei's Chengde City, which is celebrated as a prime summer resort of emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). Fengning County was established in 1778 when Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty named it after "Fengwu Kangning," which means "a land enjoying good harvest, abundance, tranquility and peaceful times." Later, in 1987, it was renamed Fengning Manchu Autonomous County.

Fengning is also recognized as the "Hometown of Chinese Folk Papercutting Art," a title awarded by the Ministry of Culture. In 2006, Fengning Manchu papercutting was added to China's national intangible cultural heritage list by the State Council. In 2009, Chinese papercutting was further honored when it was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Shi Junfeng, now 59 years old, is one of the most celebrated inheritors of Fengning Manchu papercutting. Her intricate and masterful creations have made her a leading figure in preserving and promoting this traditional craft, earning her widespread acclaim.

Chengde girl performs papercutting in US

In the 1980s, traveling abroad was still a rare privilege for most Chinese people. Yet in 1984, Shi Junfeng, then 19 years old, traveled to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA, to perform live papercutting. Her work amazed local audiences, and her visit brought significant attention to Fengning County, where she was born and brought up.