The Chinese redwood palace lantern is a traditional craft dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Commonly featuring dragon or phoenix carvings, these lanterns were later exported internationally and became known as "Chinese Lanterns". Today, however, the popularity of these old-fashioned lanterns has diminished. In our special segment, "Intangible Yet Incredible", we find out how one family in Southern China's Guangdong is determined to keep this tradition shining. 

A gentle touch of acrylic, infused with the colors of light, glass painting is a delicate process in the creation of palace lanterns. 

This exquisite art was originally crafted for imperial courts hundreds of years ago, but later became a beloved lighting and decorative feature in ordinary homes. 

Luo Minxin was a young apprentice at the time when western incandescent lamps became mainstream in China. 

LUO MINXIN Cantonese-style Palace Lantern Artist "In the 1980s, many lantern factories in China went bankrupt due to the popularity of Western lights. A very famous factory in Guangzhou also closed down in the 90s. It was during that time that my father to build his own lantern factory. He saw that I was a gifted painter from a young age, so he taught me a lot. Naturally, I followed in his footsteps and continued to this day."

These glass panes reflect a changing world. 

Traditional lanterns use local motifs, such as lychee and kapok flowers, to depict Cantonese life. 

Today, new designs also incorporate anime characters and modern landscapes. 

HUANG FEI Shenzhen "This is one of the more sophisticated lantern designs with wood carvings from top to bottom. But if you look closer the glass painting actually shows a modern landscape. This is a collection of landmarks from 11 cities in the Greater Bay Area. It took skilled masters more than six months to finish this lantern, and it's worth about 16,000 US dollars." 

Like many traditional crafts, these ancient palace lanterns struggle to attract a younger audience. 

The materials used for the frames, such as redwood, ebony, and rosewood are expensive. 

Crafting a lantern requires a range of skills, from design to finish. 

Luo Minxin's husband specializes in carpentry. 

LU JIJIA Carpenter "I've been doing this for 20 years. It's not that complicated. The challenge is perseverance. Carpentry is quite messy with all the dust, noise, and heavy-lifting. Many young people find it too tiring and don't like it."

The couple has been teaching workshops at schools and museums to cultivate public interest, with the hope that this interest will translate into motivation for pursuing a career in this craft. 

Luo believes there is a market for their skills, especially with the resurgence of Chinese-style interior designs in recent years. 

LUO MINXIN Cantonese-style Palace Lantern Artist "Lights are beautiful. They are the first thing we turn on when we go home from a long day of work. To me, it's about a family's togetherness and warmth. It also carries meanings of a bright future."

Huang Fei, CGTN, Guangzhou.