Xiangtan paper shadow puppetry uses carved plain paper rather than the leather traditionally used in northern China, and its signature three-quarter-face design gives the figures vivid expressions. In 2011, Chinese shadow puppetry was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and Xiangtan's puppet-making techniques were added to Hunan’s provincial heritage list in 2016.

The Paper Shadow Art Museum in Xiangtan, Hunan Province, is a cultural space dedicated to keeping this tradition alive. It features both an exhibition area and a traditional theater, where generations of stories unfold through light and shadow.

Moving beyond static displays, the museum brings shadow puppetry to life through live performances and interactive experiences. Young visitors from China and abroad can try their hand at making paper puppets, discovering the charm of this traditional art and keeping it alive for a new generation.