Yongxing Hall Folk Culture Courtyard

Yongxing Hall Folk Culture Courtyard

Yongxing Hall Folk Culture Courtyard is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

Northeast of the intersection between Liaoguan Road and Dezhou-Changzhou Expressway lies a fresh and unique cultural courtyard named Yongxing Hall Folk Culture Inheritance Courtyard. This is the inheritance base, self-funded and established by Guo Chunkui. In this courtyard, Guo Chunkui freely wields his carving knife to carve out the culture of Liaocheng. Yongxing Hall signifies everlasting prosperity, embodying Guo Chunkui’s hope that Dongchang woodblock New Year paintings will be passed down from generation to generation.

The front row of buildings at Yongxing Hall serves as the exhibition space for Guo Chunkui’s works. Classic-themed New Year paintings such as Double Happiness, Qilin Bringing a Child, Zhao Yun Rescuing Adou, and Ma Chao Battling Ma Dai are neatly displayed on the shelves. Due to the sluggish market, many of these paintings have been stockpiled for months, yet the first thing Guo Chunkui does every morning is carefully dust off every speck of dirt from the paintings.

The west room in the backyard is Guo Chunkui’s creative base. Upon entering, the first thing you see is a set of New Year painting printing equipment. A long table holds various carving tools, and the display shelves are stacked with New Year paintings in various sizes. This small room of about twenty square meters has seen countless visitors—some come to admire, some to place orders, and others to learn the craft.

Facing all kinds of people, Guo Chunkui never turns anyone away. For those interested in learning the craft, he shares his skills generously and never asks for any payment. In addition, Guo Chunkui brings woodblock New Year paintings into schools, allowing children to experience Liaocheng culture up close. Each time, he carefully prepares lesson plans and materials. To avoid making it too dull and to help children easily engage with the subject, Guo Chunkui deliberately collects interesting stories and mythological legends.