Thanks to the national policy to protect intangible cultural heritage, he now has a stable salary and subsidies for his craft. He can put more energy into research and development, with more opportunities to communicate with his peers.

He says that, like other forms of traditional craftsmanship, there are fewer young people interested in learning the technique, as they have many alternative careers to choose from.

He teaches optional courses of puppet-making and performing at schools to foster the interest of students, hoping that they will at least adopt it as a hobby. He looks forward to the day that the city government establishes a puppet-play course at a vocational school.

Wang's 17-year-old son, Wang Yifeng, started to learn how to manipulate a stick puppet at 14. Aches in his arms came with the territory because he had to hold the puppet up above his shoulders for a long time. He helps his father when he can, doing simple tasks in the puppet-making process.

"I'm lucky to have been born into a family of puppeteers. I've been exposed to the folk art since childhood and I want to inherit the craftsmanship in the future," the son says.