Xianju needle-pierced bone-free lanterns are displayed at a lantern show. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

In Xianju county, Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, local inheritors are continuing to refine a lantern-making craft that traces back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), with the technique gaining renewed attention in recent years.

The lanterns, known as Xianju needle-pierced bone-free lanterns, rely on a sheet of paper rather than bamboo or wood frames. Makers select pearlescent and color-card paper with high purity and even light transmission, then cut each piece according to hand-drawn designs. After aligning the layers with a paper-piercing awl, they begin piercing the patterns. Craftspeople describe the step as the most demanding part of the work, as each square centimeter can hold 100 to 150 pinholes.

The craft nearly disappeared several decades ago. Since 1983, Li Xiangman has searched villages across the county, gathering remaining sketches and oral accounts before restoring the craft and identifying more than 20 classic varieties.

For many residents, lanterns were woven into the community memory. During festivals, bone-free lanterns once illuminated ancient streets with bright patterns and delicate silhouettes. These early impressions have inspired younger artisans to take up the craft and devote years to mastering its techniques.

Recent growth in rural tourism has widened opportunities for the lanterns to reach the public. Workshops in Puzhen town now welcome visitors and students, while schools in Xianju have introduced lantern-making clubs, classroom materials, and exhibition spaces. Local vocational programs have also created training bases dedicated to the craft.