CULTURE

Embark on the craft of painting wooden clogs imbued with auspicious meanings. In Dongguan, traditional red-lacquered and flower-painted wooden clogs are an essential attire for joyous occasions. They carry wishes for steady advancement, smooth sailing, prosperity, and longevity. The art of making these traditional red-lacquered and flower-painted wooden clogs is among the first batch of municipal-level intangible cultural heritage projects in Dongguan. The patterns on the clogs often feature landscapes, flowers, birds, pines, and cranes, combined in various ways. A design that includes elements like mountains, trees, and a person rowing a boat is called "Smooth Sailing," while a combination of flowers and birds symbolizes "Flourishing Wealth."