It is not unusual to find many relaxation places in urban areas increasingly decorated with old-fashioned woodcarving articles of amazing artistic beauty.

Like most ancient Chinese folk crafts, woodcarving has been passed on from generation to generation. Based on the distinctive social and cultural structures in China's rural area, folk woodcarving artists have established themselves with their unique artistic insights. In addition, the long history of woodcarving has seen the continuous absorption of various artistic styles, especially the lattice and lintel carving in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties that exhibits exceptionally exquisite craftsmanship.

As artists apply their carving chisels with breathtaking care punctuated by occasional bold flourishes, people, animals, and plants of all shapes and styles jump to life on such small parts as a lattice (square- or diamond-patterned window or door frames) and lintel (window or door posts. In artistic expression, when the highest level of skill is reached, then the craftsmanship borders on simplicity. This is exactly the quality these vivid carvings give off, filling the viewers with admiration and even formerly belittling men of letters.

The modern times have witnessed the rejuvenation of these ancient-style carvings, as new elements of fashionable decoration, in different types of urban architectures; theteahousesare an example in this respect.

Just like folk art, Chinese tea culture also has its roots in the rural culture. Symbolizing serenity and naturalness, tea has long been an integral part of the Chinese way of life. When friends chat over a cup of tea in a teahouse decorated with old-fashioned lattice and lintel carvings, a sense of nostalgia emerges and they find themselves immersed in an idyllic atmosphere of simple beauty.

For most Chinese, tea is not only material; it also possesses a spiritual quality. Naturally, special attention is given to the creation of an aesthetical atmosphere in many teahouses with the adoption of woodcarvings and display of antique teapots and cups. As one sits down in a teahouse watching thin vapor rise delicately from a newly poured cup of tea, urban noise recedes and freshness sets in. At this juncture, ancient life finds expression in a modern teahouse, elevating one into a state of selflessness. What is left is relaxation and pleasure.

Enjoyment of this elegant and leisurely type is typically Oriental, deeply engraved in the lifestyle of mild-tempered Chinese. As ancient-style woodcarvings find their way into more modern urban teahouses as well as ordinary households, traditional Chinese folk culture will continue to play an indelible role in modern China.