In China, if you want to take some Chinese handicrafts back home as gifts for your families or friends, go to some big folk handicrafts shops and you may have a lot to feast your eyes. Here are the brief introductions:
　　Clay Sculpture
　　Clay sculpture, a kind of folk craft of sculpturing a variety of figures from clay, is also known as “painted sculpture” and “mud play” . Clay sculpture art is an ancient and common Chinese folk art form in which clay can be used as raw material and kneaded by hand to take form. They are plain in color or multi colored and mainly take the shape of human figures and animals. And is known for its simple, unrefined and pleasant style.
　　The folk artisans use natural or cheap materials but can make small and exquisite artifacts, gaining popularity with common people. Though clay sculptures are not technologically involved, they bring highlights to people’ s lives by means of simplicity, direct-vision, authenticity and hands on characteristics.
　　Embroidery

　　The Four Famous Embroideries of China refer to the Xiang Embroidery in central China’ s Hunan Province, Shu Embroidery in western China’s Sichuan Province, Yue Embroidery in southern China’ s Guangdong Province and Su embroidery in eastern China’ s Jiangsu Province. All of them are well known for their-honored history, excellent craftsmanship and unique styles. Absorbing the spirit of Chinese paintings, they reach a high artistic level.

       Papercuts
　　Chinese Paper Cutting is the first type of paper cutting design, since paper was invented by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China. The art form was later spread to other parts of the world with different regions adopting their own cultural styles. Because the cut-outs are also used to decorate doors and windows, they are sometimes referred to “chuāng huā” , meaning “Window Flower.”
　　Today, paper-cuttings are chiefly decorative. They ornament walls, windows, doors, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns in homes and are also used on presents or are given as gifts themselves. Entrances decorated with paper cut—outs are supposed to bring good luck. Paper-cuttings used to be used as patterns, especially for embroidery and lacquer work. Papercuts are used by younger generation as a decoration for their kits and books.
　　Chinese Knots
　　Traditional Chinese decorative knots, are distinctive and traditional Chinese folk handicrafts woven separately from one piece of thread and named according to its shape and meaning. In Chinese, “knot” means reunion, friendliness, peace, warmth, marriage, love, etc. Chinese knots are often used to express good wishes, including happiness, prosperity, love and the absence of evil.

注释：

1.     You may have a lot to feast your eyes.它会让你大饱眼福的。
    to feast your eyes： 大饱眼福
    类似的说法还有: to feast one’ s mouth大饱口福; to feast one’ s ears 大饱耳福。
2.     All of them are well known for their-honored history, excellent craftsmanship and unique styles.这些绣品均以历史悠久， 工艺精湛， 风格独特而著称。
3.    a distinctive and traditional Chinese folk handicraft woven separately from one piece of thread and named according to its shape and meaning 它是一种中华民族特有的手工编
    织工艺品， 每个结均以一根绳从头至尾编制而成， 并按照结的形状为其命名。

Chinese folk handicrafts are closely related with the Chinese people’ s daily life. Throughout the long history, there have been developed hundreds of types and thousands of varieties of folk handicrafts. These works have greatly enriched Chinese people’ s life.
　　Chinese ceramics has a long history. The ancient people over 7000 years ago were already able to make colored pottery (which requires a temperature under 1050℃), and people of the Eastern Han Dynasty could make ceramics over 1900 years ago, 1700 years earlier than the people in Western countries. With the culture advances, the use of pottery and ceramics has gradually turned from utensils to ornamental works of art.
　　Chinese lacquer ware boasts a history of over 5000 years. It is made with a mixture of various refined colorful natural lacquer through such procedures as polishing, carving, filling, painting etc.. Contemporary lacquer ware bases mainly include Beijing, Hangzhou, Yangzhou, and Sichuan, etc..
　　Chinese jade carving enjoys the reputation of “the essence of oriental arts” in the world. The jade carvings have different kinds of forms, mainly in the shape of human figures, birds, animals, flowers, and utensils. Chinese crafts masters make use of the natural texture, shape, and luster of the jades and carve them into masterpieces of carving with excellent skills.

注释：

1.     The use of pottery and ceramics has gradually turned from utensils to ornamental works of art.
    陶器和瓷器的使用逐渐由生活器皿向艺术装饰品转变。
2.     It is made with a mixture of various refined colorful natural lacquer through such procedures as polishing, carving, filling, painting etc..
    它是由各种各样的彩色天然漆混合， 并经过一系列的工艺， 如打磨、 雕刻、 填料、 绘画等等才制成的。用漆涂在各种器物的表面上所制成的日常器具及工艺品、 美术品等， 一般称为 “漆器”。
3.     Chinese jade carving enjoys the reputation of “the essence of oriental arts” .
    中国玉雕享有 “东方艺术精髓” 的美誉。
    在中国, 玉是纯洁、 富贵的代名词，“冰清玉洁”“琼楼玉宇”“金玉满堂” 等涉及玉的美好词汇不胜枚举。中国也是用玉最早的国家之一。
4.     The jade carvings have different kinds of forms, mainly in the shape of human figures, birds, animals...
    玉雕的造型多种多样， 主要模仿人物、 鸟兽……
5.     Chinese crafts masters make use of the natural texture, shape, and luster of the jades and carve them into masterpieces of carving with excellent skills.
    中国的手工艺人利用玉石的天然质地、 形状和光泽， 用精湛的工艺将它们雕刻成艺术精品。