Production of Spring Festival couplets in full swing in E China's Anhui

Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets are dried at a factory in Dingjiaqiao town, Jingxian county, Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng)

As the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, approaches, stores across China are putting up Spring Festival couplets. These decorative red paper banners are hung on doors and walls to celebrate the holiday.

Dingjiaqiao town in Jingxian county, Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province, produces more than 70 percent of the country's Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets.

Ding Dongsheng, who runs a company in Jingxian county, took over the business from his father 10 years ago. Since the start of the year, his company has sold more than 4 million yuan ($577,000) worth of Wannianhong couplets, he said.

In Yuchen Paper's production workshop, automated machinery operates around the clock. Workers rotate in shifts to keep up with demand, ensuring Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets reach households on time.

"Our main products are typically machine-made calligraphy and painting paper," said Wu Yanfei, head of the company. "But starting in August each year, we switch our production lines to focus on Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets, building up stock for the busy season. Thanks to automated printing equipment, we're able to produce up to 200,000 pairs of couplets in a single day."

Sales of Wannianhong Spring Festival couplet paper and related products in Dingjiaqiao surpassed 300 million yuan in 2025. Villagers working in the industry earn an average annual income of more than 50,000 yuan.

Photo shows Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets at a factory in Dingjiaqiao town, Jingxian county, Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng)

A worker produces Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets at a factory in Dingjiaqiao town, Jingxian county, Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng)

Workers produce Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets at a factory in Dingjiaqiao town, Jingxian county, Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng)

Photo shows semi-finished Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets at a Yuchen Paper warehouse in Dingjiaqiao town, Jingxian county, Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng)

Photo shows semi-finished Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets at a Yuchen Paper warehouse in Dingjiaqiao town, Jingxian county, Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng)

Workers pack semi-finished Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets at a factory in Dingjiaqiao town, Jingxian county, Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng)

Photo shows Wannianhong Spring Festival couplets at a factory in Dingjiaqiao town, Jingxian county, Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng)