The simple things in life can be just as dazzling as those cirucus performances. A piece of paper, a handful of soil and a bundle of straw -- with some skillful hands, these oridinary things can all be made into beautiful works of art. Seems a little far fetched? Well, that's what young students have done at a special art program presentation in China's eastern city of Qingdao.

The simple things in life can be just as dazzling as those cirucus performances. A piece of paper, a handful of soil and a bundle of straw -- with some skillful hands, these oridinary things can all be made into beautiful works of art.

From straw knitwear, to colorful dough figurines, these intricate arts and crafts have all been created by a new generation of traditional Chinese artists.

Qingdao's student arts program attracts primary students from 31 provinces and cities around China.

Students from Jiangsu Province have come to show off their papercutting skills. They can even improvise at the audience's command.

"They don't have to draw an image on the paper, it's very spontaneous, they just cut the paper and try to create something interesting," said Zhu Linwu, principal, Fengyu Primary School, Jiangsu Province.

"What has impressed me most are the works by children from rural areas, they were able to combine different traditional folk art in their creations, like papercutting, mud moulding and 'New-Year-painting'. It's all original and really creative," said Wang Dengfeng, director of Department of Physical, Health & Arts Education.

China's Ministry of Education and the city of Qingdao started the student arts program back in 2003. Presentations are held every three years.

The simple things in life can be just as dazzling as those cirucus performances. A piece of paper, a handful of soil and a bundle of straw -- with some skillful hands, these oridinary things can all be made into beautiful works of art.