Fish lanterns on display in Shipu town. [Photo/cztv.com]

The making of fish lanterns, a traditional craft with a history dating back more than 600 years in Shipu, a fishing town in Ningbo city, East China's Zhejiang province, has been revived largely thanks to a craftsman named Bao Jiqin.

The 75-year-old Shipu native fell in love with making lanterns at a young age, and has been dedicated to the business for decades.

Fish lanterns are a common sight in Shipu. For centuries, locals have believed that fish lanterns bear auspicious meanings and can fend off evil. Every household used to make and display the lanterns.

The Shipu lanterns are traditionally made from bamboo strips, cotton cloth and paper. They have a multitude of shapes representing all kinds of marine and land animals, among which, fish-shaped lanterns are most popular.

Like many other traditional forms of art, the making of fish lanterns is suffering from a shrinking pool of skilled workers as well as rising production costs.

However, Bao has dedicated himself to promoting and protecting the traditional art form.