Lacquer Fan Making in China: The DIY Craft Souvenir That's Going Viral (2026)

Why Lacquer Fans Are Everywhere Right Now

Walk into a Chinese craft studio this year and you will likely see the same scene: a shallow basin of water, a row of blank paper fans, and someone leaning over holding their breath while a white fan sinks into a layer of floating colour. Five seconds later they lift it out and a swirl of blue, gold and purple has transferred itself onto the paper. No two fans come out the same — that randomness is the whole point.

The craft is called 漆扇 (qī shàn), a drifting-lacquer fan, and it sits inside China's broader intangible-heritage revival. State media have been pushing the bring-a-piece-of-China-home angle through 2026, with lacquer and other heritage crafts front and centre (People's Daily, 2026-08-11). The trend has real scale: in May, officials in Suzhou's Zhouzhuang water town said nearly 300 foreign visitors took part in heritage experiences there, lacquer-fan making included (Suzhou municipal government, 2026-05-06). On the ground, it is one of the cheapest ways to leave China with a souvenir you made yourself.

What Actually Happens in a Session

The physics is simple, and that is what makes it beginner-proof: the paint is a lacquer-based pigment that does not dissolve in water, so it sits on the surface in a thin film. A Trip.com parent review from Kunshan (2026-04-21) describes exactly this — drip the paint in, sink the fan, and the design adheres to the paper almost instantly. A typical session runs like this:

1. Pick two or three colours — the studio will steer you if you are overwhelmed.
2. Drip the paint onto the water, a few drops at a time.
3. Stir or gently blow the surface to pull the colours into a pattern.
4. Lower the blank fan in, give it a slow roll, lift it out.
5. Wait 15–20 minutes for the lacquer to dry; the drying pause is a standard part of the session (Klook Shanghai listing, 2026-10-10).

You do not need any craft skill. GetYourGuide's Shanghai lacquer-fan experience is described as step-by-step with no experience needed, and several Shanghai listings run in English (GetYourGuide, 2026-07-27; Klook/Trip.com Eatwith listings, 2026-06/07).

Where to Try It

• Shanghai — the easiest place to book in English. The Eatwith drifting-lacquer-fan experience on Klook and Trip.com runs up to three hours with an English-speaking guide, instant confirmation and free cancellation (Klook, 2026-10-10; Trip.com, 2026-07-02).
• Suzhou — one-to-two-hour workshops on Pingjiang Road, right by the canals (Cultural Tour China, 2026-01-27).
• Chengdu — the same workshop format on Kuanzhai Alley, where the city's lifestyle-experience scene is concentrated (Cultural Tour China, 2026-01-27).
• Zhouzhuang, near Suzhou — the water town where local officials hosted nearly 300 foreign visitors for heritage experiences including lacquer fans (Suzhou municipal government, 2026-05-06).

What It Costs and How to Book

On the Shanghai platform listings we checked, the English-guided experience runs around ¥90 (about US$12 at October 2026 exchange rates), with free cancellation (Klook, 2026-10-10). Prices vary by city and studio, and packaged platform experiences sit above street-level stalls. You can pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay almost everywhere; if you have not set those up yet, our payment guide for foreigners walks you through it.

Practical Tips

• Plan for the drying wait — 15–20 minutes minimum — so do it mid-morning and wander the alley while it dries.
• The fan makes a great gift. Reviewers on Trip.com talk about kids showing it off everywhere right after finishing (Trip.com Kunshan moments, 2026-04-21).
• If your skin is sensitive, ask the studio about the lacquer base before you start; studios are used to the question.
• Pair it with tea culture or a garden visit — the workshop areas in Suzhou and Chengdu sit right next to the classic old-town itinerary (Cultural Tour China, 2026-01-27).

A lacquer fan takes about half an hour and costs about the same as a tourist-trap trinket — except this one is yours, and it is genuinely one of a kind. Add it to your itinerary in the planner and slot it between the sights. For more hands-on China crafts, see our craft-experience roundup, pottery in Jingdezhen, a Chengdu day plan and tea experiences.