The 88 year old man looks up at us from the rim of his cup, his bespeckled eyes wide and his cheeks flushed with the steam rising from his noodles. His name is Mr. Chan and he owns this charming old shop where the products he sells have one thing in common; they are all made out of paper.

Burning paper money and other items for ancestors has been a Chinese tradition for centuries. Qing Ming, the day dedicated to ancestor worship on April the 5th , used to be the only day people were allowed to pay respects to their deceased relatives because wealthy people were holding too many elaborate and expensive ceremonies for their ancestors throughout the year. Now, ancestors are worshipped at any time of the year and Mr Chan is kept busy crafting new offerings all year round.

People don't just burn paper money any more, they burn everything from paper clothes to paper Viagra (sold in various cemeteries around China)! Chao Kee Paper Craft does not sell paper Viagra, but it sells pretty much everything else.

Mr. Chan has been paper-crafting ancestor offerings all his life. A family business for hundreds of years, he tells us the little shop has not changed much but the area has changed beyond recognition. Business is still good according to Mr. Chan, "If it wasn't then we wouldn't still be here," he says.

Chao Kee Paper Craft is not only popular because it's the only shop selling paper goods for ancestor-worship in the area, tourists also like to buy paper decorations for their houses and for gifts. We asked if he minded foreigners using his creations for other purposes, "Not at all, I'm flattered that they like my paper designs so much. Some people ask me if it is bad luck to use the goods for themselves, but it is not bad luck at all."

Shops have started selling plastic-based products to burn because they look more realistic. This is very bad for the environment and Mr. Chan's creations are proof that you do not need plastic to make these products realistic. The elaborately designed paper is perfect for wrapping presents with or for writing letters on. Mr Chan's brother wrote this book on the art of paper making before his death six years ago.