The Chinese people have the custom of sticking up pictures to celebrate the traditional New Year. On New Year's Eve, people pasted New Year pictures in their houses, and welcomed in the God of Wealth. The most common origin of this custom was to worship Guan Yu, a famous general of the Three Kingdoms Period (220-265), a figure from the classic novel Romance of Three Kingdoms. He was canonized due to his loyalty, bravery, persistence and selflessness, and people offered sacrifices to him to pray for wealth. During the Ming and Qing dynasties the art of New Year pictures spread nationwide. But it was during the Qing Dynasty that New Year pictures reached their zenith.

Traditional New Year pictures, usually made by the block printing method, are characterized by simple, clear lines, brilliant colors and scenes of prosperity. The method consists of several steps: drawing and tracing, block engraving, printing, coloring and, in some cases, mounting.

The themes expressed in New Year pictures cover a wide range, from plump babies holding a fish to the Old God of Longevity, from landscapes to birds and flowers. Human figures often show artistic exaggeration, but the message in all pictures is always good luck , festivity or other nice things in the wish of the people. Usual objects in the pictures include the crane or the peach which symbolizes a long life, the plum or peony which is a mark of good fortune and happiness. The colors most favored are red, green, purple, yellow and black-which are not only bright but contrast well with one another-intended to give fresh, vivid, pleasant and inspiring impressions.

The pictures have the features of both woodcut prints and Chinese paintings, making a special branch in traditional folk art. No wonder New Year pictures are called "encyclopedias on folklore." According to statistics, there were more than 2,000 varieties of wood block New Year pictures in circulation. These also spread to Vietnam, Japan, Thailand and Russia.