8 Advanced Chinese Paper-Cutting Templates: Print and Prepare

Choose from eight detailed Chinese paper-cutting studies: a phoenix, floral horse, paired carps, peony, rooster, dragon, Double Happiness medallion, and Six Happiness Hearts. This guide explains how to prepare the printable patterns and follow the different cutting methods.

I maintain ChinesePaperCut.com, where these patterns have A4 and US Letter PDFs, SVG files, and illustrated guides. Each pattern section below includes its own download links. These eight designs are classified as advanced because of their fine openings, narrow bridges, or folded layers.

The pictures are digital pattern previews, not photographs of finished paper cuts. These templates have not been physically trial-cut; start with a test piece and check the bridges and layer thickness before committing to your final paper. This is a printable-template preparation guide, not a claim that all eight have been made successfully in paper.

A printer and the A4 or US Letter PDF for your chosen design

Thin colored paper, plus scrap paper for a trial

A ruler to check the 50 mm calibration line

A pencil and low-tack tape for transferring the full-size guide

Fine scissors; a sharp craft knife and cutting mat for interior details

Clean sheets for flattening the result

Adults should handle craft knives. Keep fingers away from the cutting path. Do not force a blade through a thick folded stack; choose a suitable paper and test it first.

Download the PDF that matches your printer paper, then select Actual size or 100%, rather than Fit to page. Measure the 50 mm line before cutting. If it is wrong, correct the print settings and reprint.

Use the full-size pattern, not the small preview image, as your cutting reference. Keep the black or colored connecting paper and remove only the indicated openings. The illustrated guides mark the next cuts in red and folds in blue.

There are three methods in this collection. Phoenix, horse, and carps use a folded outer frame followed by flat interior carving. Peony, rooster, and dragon stay flat. Double Happiness uses two layers; Six Happiness Hearts uses a 30-degree wedge with twelve layers. Follow the instructions for the chosen pattern instead of applying one folding method to all eight.

Digital preview shown above.

Method: Fold the frame; carve flat. Use a center fold for the outer medallion frame only. The picture inside is asymmetric and must be cut after unfolding.

Do not cut the animal, bird, fish or flowers through folded layers. Follow the full-size upright reference after opening the frame.

1. Start with a full A4 sheet

Take one blank A4 sheet (210 x 297 mm), preferably thin colored paper. Print PDF page 1 separately at 100% and check its 50 mm line. Center the pattern on your blank sheet; do not cut off the surrounding paper yet.

2. Fold and mark the frame

Fold the A4 sheet lengthwise with the closed crease on your left. Transfer only the right half of the outer frame from the full-size guide. Leave the animal, lettering and flowers unmarked for now: they must not be mirrored.

3. Cut the outer frame only

Begin at the loose outside edge of the folded rectangle and approach the red frame outline through waste paper. Cut this outside boundary through both layers. Leave the whole center solid and the connections across the crease intact.

4. Open, then cut the details

Unfold and flatten the frame. Align and trace the complete original drawing in its correct direction. Now cut the small feather and floral openings, then the larger spaces around the bird, one layer at a time on a cutting mat. Follow the red interior boundaries and preserve the long feathers and their connections to the round frame.

5. Lift and refine

Gently release the cut design from the surrounding offcuts. Lay it flat and trim only attached scraps or uneven edges. Preserve the long feathers and their connections to the round frame. A finished opening does not need to be cut again.

Illustrated guide and downloads: https://chinesepapercut.com/templates/phoenix/

A4: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/phoenix/phoenix-a4.pdf

LETTER: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/phoenix/phoenix-letter.pdf

SVG: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/phoenix/phoenix.svg

Artwork credit: Phoenix by JicJac; CC0 1.0. https://openclipart.org/detail/201712/phoenix

Adapted for monochrome paper cutting with simplified details and connecting bridges. No endorsement by the source artist is implied.

Digital preview shown above.

Method: Fold the frame; carve flat. Use a center fold for the decorative outer frame only. The picture inside is asymmetric and must be cut after unfolding.

Do not cut the animal, bird, fish or flowers through folded layers. Follow the full-size upright reference after opening the frame.

1. Start with a full A4 sheet

Take one blank A4 sheet (210 x 297 mm), preferably thin colored paper. Print PDF page 1 separately at 100% and check its 50 mm line. Center the pattern on your blank sheet; do not cut off the surrounding paper yet.

2. Fold and mark the frame

Fold the A4 sheet lengthwise with the closed crease on your left. Transfer only the right half of the outer frame from the full-size guide. Leave the animal, lettering and flowers unmarked for now: they must not be mirrored.

3. Cut the outer frame only

Begin at the loose outside edge of the folded rectangle and approach the red frame outline through waste paper. Cut this outside boundary through both layers. Leave the whole center solid and the connections across the crease intact.

4. Open, then cut the details

Unfold and flatten the frame. Align and trace the complete original drawing in its correct direction. Now cut the small border openings and flower details, then the white areas around the horse, one layer at a time on a cutting mat. Follow the red interior boundaries and preserve the medallion frame and the horse-to-frame connections.

5. Lift and refine

Gently release the cut design from the surrounding offcuts. Lay it flat and trim only attached scraps or uneven edges. Preserve the medallion frame and the horse-to-frame connections. A finished opening does not need to be cut again.

Illustrated guide and downloads: https://chinesepapercut.com/templates/horse/

A4: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/horse/horse-a4.pdf

LETTER: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/horse/horse-letter.pdf

SVG: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/horse/horse.svg

Artwork credit: Horse-red.svg by FradonStar; CC0 1.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Horse-red.svg

Adapted for monochrome paper cutting with simplified details and connecting bridges. No endorsement by the source artist is implied.

Digital preview shown above.

Method: Fold the frame; carve flat. Use a center fold for the outer medallion frame only. The picture inside is asymmetric and must be cut after unfolding.

Do not cut the animal, bird, fish or flowers through folded layers. Follow the full-size upright reference after opening the frame.

1. Start with a full A4 sheet

Take one blank A4 sheet (210 x 297 mm), preferably thin colored paper. Print PDF page 1 separately at 100% and check its 50 mm line. Center the pattern on your blank sheet; do not cut off the surrounding paper yet.

2. Fold and mark the frame

Fold the A4 sheet lengthwise with the closed crease on your left. Transfer only the right half of the outer frame from the full-size guide. Leave the animal, lettering and flowers unmarked for now: they must not be mirrored.

3. Cut the outer frame only

Begin at the loose outside edge of the folded rectangle and approach the red frame outline through waste paper. Cut this outside boundary through both layers. Leave the whole center solid and the connections across the crease intact.

4. Open, then cut the details

Unfold and flatten the frame. Align and trace the complete original drawing in its correct direction. Now cut the smallest lettering and fish details, then the white spaces around the paired fish, one layer at a time on a cutting mat. Follow the red interior boundaries and preserve the character strokes, circular border and connecting ornaments.

5. Lift and refine

Gently release the cut design from the surrounding offcuts. Lay it flat and trim only attached scraps or uneven edges. Preserve the character strokes, circular border and connecting ornaments. A finished opening does not need to be cut again.

Illustrated guide and downloads: https://chinesepapercut.com/templates/carps/

A4: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/carps/carps-a4.pdf

LETTER: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/carps/carps-letter.pdf

SVG: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/carps/carps.svg

Artwork credit: Chuang hua by yamachem, after j4p4n; CC0 1.0. https://openclipart.org/detail/214688/chuang-hua-chuang-hua

Adapted for monochrome paper cutting with simplified details and connecting bridges. No endorsement by the source artist is implied.

Digital preview shown above.

Method: Keep this design flat. Petals overlap irregularly; a round-looking bloom does not imply mirror symmetry.

Use an open sheet to preserve this exact design. You can make a separate mirrored variation, but it will change the supplied pattern.

1. Start with a full A4 sheet

Take one blank A4 sheet (210 x 297 mm), preferably thin colored paper. Print PDF page 1 separately at 100% and check its 50 mm line. Center the pattern on your blank sheet; do not cut off the surrounding paper yet.

2. Transfer the complete drawing

Tape or trace the complete full-size drawing onto the center of the blank sheet, keeping its original direction. The gray outline only shows placement. Keep the surrounding rectangle intact; repeated details do not mean this pattern should be folded.

3. Cut the inside first

Cut the fine petal and leaf openings, then the larger gaps between flowers and stems. Work on a cutting mat, with an adult handling the craft knife. Make a small entry inside each area to be removed, then follow its red dashed boundary. Lift out the small piece. Keep the stem and leaf attachments and all surrounding paper in place for support.

4. Release the outside contour

Start from an outside edge of the A4 sheet and approach the outline through waste paper. Follow the red outer boundary and remove the surrounding scrap. Support narrow sections with your free hand and preserve the stem and leaf attachments.

5. Lift and refine

Gently release the cut design from the surrounding offcuts. Lay it flat and trim only attached scraps or uneven edges. Preserve the stem and leaf attachments. A finished opening does not need to be cut again.

Illustrated guide and downloads: https://chinesepapercut.com/templates/peony/

A4: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/peony/peony-a4.pdf

LETTER: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/peony/peony-letter.pdf

SVG: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/peony/peony.svg

Artwork credit: Peony by Pearson Scott Foresman; vector by warszawianka; Public domain. https://openclipart.org/detail/175534/peony

Adapted for monochrome paper cutting with simplified details and connecting bridges. No endorsement by the source artist is implied.

Digital preview shown above.

Method: Keep this design flat. The head and sweeping tail face different directions.

Use an open sheet to preserve this exact design. You can make a separate mirrored variation, but it will change the supplied pattern.

1. Start with a full A4 sheet

Take one blank A4 sheet (210 x 297 mm), preferably thin colored paper. Print PDF page 1 separately at 100% and check its 50 mm line. Center the pattern on your blank sheet; do not cut off the surrounding paper yet.

2. Transfer the complete drawing

Tape or trace the complete full-size drawing onto the center of the blank sheet, keeping its original direction. The gray outline only shows placement. Keep the surrounding rectangle intact; repeated details do not mean this pattern should be folded.

3. Cut the inside first

Cut the eye and feather details, then the spaces around the tail and legs. Work on a cutting mat, with an adult handling the craft knife. Make a small entry inside each area to be removed, then follow its red dashed boundary. Lift out the small piece. Keep the thin feet, comb points and tail feathers and all surrounding paper in place for support.

4. Release the outside contour

Start from an outside edge of the A4 sheet and approach the outline through waste paper. Follow the red outer boundary and remove the surrounding scrap. Support narrow sections with your free hand and preserve the thin feet, comb points and tail feathers.

5. Lift and refine

Gently release the cut design from the surrounding offcuts. Lay it flat and trim only attached scraps or uneven edges. Preserve the thin feet, comb points and tail feathers. A finished opening does not need to be cut again.

Illustrated guide and downloads: https://chinesepapercut.com/templates/rooster/

A4: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/rooster/rooster-a4.pdf

LETTER: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/rooster/rooster-letter.pdf

SVG: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/rooster/rooster.svg

Artwork credit: Rooster by andinuryadin; adapted by JayNick; CC0 1.0. https://openclipart.org/detail/270536/rooster

Adapted for monochrome paper cutting with simplified details and connecting bridges. No endorsement by the source artist is implied.

Digital preview shown above.

Method: Keep this design flat. The winding body and one-sided details must keep their original direction.

Use an open sheet to preserve this exact design. You can make a separate mirrored variation, but it will change the supplied pattern.

1. Start with a full A4 sheet

Take one blank A4 sheet (210 x 297 mm), preferably thin colored paper. Print PDF page 1 separately at 100% and check its 50 mm line. Center the pattern on your blank sheet; do not cut off the surrounding paper yet.

2. Transfer the complete drawing

Tape or trace the complete full-size drawing onto the center of the blank sheet, keeping its original direction. The gray outline only shows placement. Keep the surrounding rectangle intact; repeated details do not mean this pattern should be folded.

3. Cut the inside first

Cut the small inner openings, then the spaces between the curled body parts. Work on a cutting mat, with an adult handling the craft knife. Make a small entry inside each area to be removed, then follow its red dashed boundary. Lift out the small piece. Keep the winding body, claws and thin facial details and all surrounding paper in place for support.

4. Release the outside contour

Start from an outside edge of the A4 sheet and approach the outline through waste paper. Follow the red outer boundary and remove the surrounding scrap. Support narrow sections with your free hand and preserve the winding body, claws and thin facial details.

5. Lift and refine

Gently release the cut design from the surrounding offcuts. Lay it flat and trim only attached scraps or uneven edges. Preserve the winding body, claws and thin facial details. A finished opening does not need to be cut again.

Illustrated guide and downloads: https://chinesepapercut.com/templates/dragon/

A4: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/dragon/dragon-a4.pdf

LETTER: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/dragon/dragon-letter.pdf

SVG: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/dragon/dragon.svg

Artwork credit: Chinese dragon by motudo; CC0 1.0. https://openclipart.org/detail/18339/chinese-dragon

Adapted for monochrome paper cutting with simplified details and connecting bridges. No endorsement by the source artist is implied.

Digital preview shown above.

Method: One half · 2 layers. Fold the left half onto the right along the vertical center. The closed fold is the straight left edge of the half-pattern. Keep both layers aligned.

Blue dashes locate a fold; red marks the next cut. Keep the black connecting paper. Layer counts are calculated; paper strength has not been physically tested.

1. Prepare the paper

Print at 100% and check the 50 mm line. Use the square blank on page 1 and mark its center.

2. Fold in this order

Fold the left half onto the right along the vertical center. The closed fold is the straight left edge of the half-pattern. Keep both layers aligned.

3. Cut the inner details first

On the folded stack, cut the character openings and curled border. Work on the red lines; the tan outer margin still supports the paper.

4. Cut the outer edge last

Follow the red outer contour on page 3 and discard the tan margin. Keep the black paper touching the blue folded edges connected.

5. Unfold in reverse order

Separate the layers in reverse folding order. The folded unit repeats by reflection; compare every motif and connection with page 1.

6. Flatten the finished piece

Support the fine bridges and press between clean sheets. If unsure, try the matching paper and layer count in the online studio.

Illustrated guide and downloads: https://chinesepapercut.com/templates/celebration-double-happiness/

A4: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/celebration-double-happiness/celebration-double-happiness-a4.pdf

LETTER: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/celebration-double-happiness/celebration-double-happiness-letter.pdf

SVG: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/celebration-double-happiness/celebration-double-happiness.svg

Shared as user-authorized practice artwork. The supplied drawings and layer counts are digital studies; paper strength has not been physically tested.

Digital preview shown above.

Method: 30° wedge · 12 layers. For this printable, first cut a circle from the square using the full-size circle on page 1. Fold left onto right (2 layers). Divide that semicircle into three 60° fans: fold the bottom third onto the middle, then the stacked middle onto the top (6). Halve this fan (12); the final wedge is 30°.

Blue dashes locate a fold; red marks the next cut. Keep the black connecting paper. Layer counts are calculated; paper strength has not been physically tested.

1. Prepare the paper

Print at 100%, check the 50 mm line and cut the round blank on page 1. Its center is the folding pivot.

2. Fold in this order

For this printable, first cut a circle from the square using the full-size circle on page 1. Fold left onto right (2 layers). Divide that semicircle into three 60° fans: fold the bottom third onto the middle, then the stacked middle onto the top (6). Halve this fan (12); the final wedge is 30°.

3. Cut the inner details first

On the folded stack, cut half a heart, half a character and the central petal. Work on the red lines; the tan outer margin still supports the paper.

4. Cut the outer edge last

Follow the red outer contour on page 3 and discard the tan margin. Keep the black paper touching the blue folded edges connected.

5. Unfold in reverse order

Separate the layers in reverse folding order. The folded unit repeats by reflection; compare every motif and connection with page 1.

6. Flatten the finished piece

Support the fine bridges and press between clean sheets. If unsure, try the matching paper and layer count in the online studio.

Illustrated guide and downloads: https://chinesepapercut.com/templates/six-happiness-hearts/

A4: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/six-happiness-hearts/six-happiness-hearts-a4.pdf

LETTER: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/six-happiness-hearts/six-happiness-hearts-letter.pdf

SVG: https://chinesepapercut.com/downloads/six-happiness-hearts/six-happiness-hearts.svg

Shared as user-authorized practice artwork. The supplied drawings and layer counts are digital studies; paper strength has not been physically tested.

Before releasing the design, check for cuts that still hold it to the surrounding waste. Support the narrow connections and trim attached scraps; do not pull on a trapped detail. Unfold layered designs in reverse order, then flatten between clean sheets.

Compare the result with the full-size reference. Record which paper and layer count you used, where bridges were weak, and whether small openings were workable. If a test tears, revise your paper choice or approach before making another copy. These templates are starting points for practice, and physical testing is still needed.

The downloadable template collection is free for personal and classroom noncommercial use. Underlying CC0/public-domain artwork retains its original status, and source credits are given alongside the six adapted designs. The two celebration studies are shared with permission. Please keep the relevant credits when sharing the material.

Full collection: https://chinesepapercut.com/templates/