The gold-painted lacquerware for wedding ceremonies [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

Gold-painted lacquerware, one of China's most renowned art forms which the government has included on its national intangible cultural heritage list, is a time-honored folk art in Ninghai county, Zhejiang province.

Carved wooden ware products are usually decorated with clay ornaments of landscapes, flowers, birds, figures and pavilions, which are then painted with gold. The process of making lacquerware is labor-intensive, and involves more than 20 steps when done manually. It requires delicate skills and patience.

Rich families in Ninghai county often gave gold-painted lacquerware home furnishings as dowries for daughters in the past, but nowadays the majority of lacquerware products are given to newlywed couples as gifts.