Chinese paper-cutting is a folk art that uses scissors or knives to cut patterns on the paper for decoration of life or for display during other folk activities. In China, paper-cutting enjoys great popularity and is part of people's life and social activities for all nationalities. It is an important part of various folk activities. Paper-cutting is a common folk art that could be popularly found in all parts of the country, but the paper-cutting in Gaomi, Weifang City, Shandong Province, has a unique artistic style. The style of Gaomi paper-cutting was formed during the Hongwu Period (1368-1398 A.D.) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.). At that time, a large number of immigrants moved from Shanxi, Henan, Hebei, Jiangxi and other places to Gaomi. Among them, there were many paper-cutting artists, and through mutual exchange and integration, Gaomi style of paper-cutting, simple but not monotonous. rough and simple styled, has been formed and handed down.

Gaomi paper-cutting is a collection of the artistic features of the paper-cutting of the north and the south. It combines exquisiteness with simplicity and uses the technique of relief styled cutting and intaglio styled cutting. The cutting is with a skillful use of black, white, grey, surface and thread, as well as jagged and smooth surfaces. The patterns follow certain rules but are unconstrained by rules, plain, simple, exquisite, bold, and unsophisticated. Simple but not monotonous, unaffected and elegant, vivid and expressive, Gaomi paper-cutting has the artistic effect of seal-cutting. The theme of Gaomi paper-cutting is very broad, including legends, myths, stories, historical opera figures, flowers and birds, and it also serves a wide range of local customs and people's daily lives. Therefore, it is known as one of the "Three Exquisite Arts of Gaomi"and is unique in the paper-cutting art in China.

In addition, the paper-cutting in the Qingzhou Area and Changyi Area of Weifang is also very delicate and beautiful. Changyi Paper-cutting enjoys a long history and profound background. It combines the graceful, ingenious, exquisite and dainty paper-cutting of East Shandong Paper-cutting and the naive, simple, unsophisticated, and straightforward West Shandong Paper-cutting. It is simple, inclusive, expressive in design and composition, rich in layout and expression, and lively for decorative purposes. Qingzhou Paper-cutting is a simple and pure paper-cutting that is done by using scissors and freely without patterns. It can be a folding pattern cutting or a flat-cut without any pre-set patterns, using oral rhymed paper-cutting formula in most cases.