The pictures were taken in Beijing Ruo Shui Tang Oil Paper Umbrella Workshop, a time-honored shop with over 100 years history and known for its umbrellas of delicate craftsmanship and vivid patterns. [Liu Lu/China Daily]

The colorfully decorated, almost gauze-like Chinese oil paper umbrella is a classic example of the perfect marriage of profound Chinese culture and delicate craftsmanship. It is regarded as quintessentially Chinese as chopsticks for thousands of years.