Shandong town's Chinese knots weave a path to global recognition

As Chinese New Year draws near, villagers in a town in Shandong province are busy making traditional Chinese knot ornaments to meet the rising demand for the upcoming holiday market.

In the serene family courtyards of Honghua town, Linyi city, women weave traditional Chinese knots by hand. Meanwhile, in factory workshops, workers package and box them. Over 40 million Chinese knots are produced and distributed from this town to domestic and international markets every year, said the town government.

"From my earliest memories, nearly every household in our village would create Chinese knots. The women I've known are all adept weavers, incredibly skilled," said 76-year-old Zheng Xihua, a resident of Xicang village.

Historically, Chinese knot production in the town was predominantly a domestic endeavor. During lulls in agricultural activities, women would handcraft Chinese knots at home, with the products primarily sold at nearby markets.

"In the past, our product range was limited. We relied heavily on outsourced processing, leading to modest profits and a fluctuating number of orders," said Wang Tingxiang, a local producer of Chinese knots and general manager of Xuanran Jieyi Arts and Crafts.

"We used to buy materials from distant cities, incurring substantial transportation costs due to the long distances," he added.

To cater to diverse market demands, the city has established a Chinese knot industrial park, a comprehensive venue that integrates trade, exhibition and handicraft exchange. The park was officially inaugurated in November.

"This year, we have started to bridge the gaps in the supply chain for raw materials and packaging boxes," said Zheng Qingyong, the town's Party secretary.

Annually, the town requires approximately 100,000 metric tons of fine thread to produce Chinese knots, as well as over 18 million boxes, with a significant portion sourced from other cities.

In May, the town established factories to produce fine thread and paper boxes, forming a complete industry chain from raw material production, product manufacturing to market sales.

"In the past, most of the Chinese knots produced in the town were simple processed products without their own brands," Zheng said.

Local companies previously emulated popular products from other regions, often struggling to keep pace with evolving trends.

"By the time their products were ready for market, they were often already outdated," he said.

This year, the town has introduced professional design teams and created many popular products.

Currently, Chinese knot products crafted in the town span various categories, including indoor decorations, car ornaments, festival items and wedding embellishments, boasting over 600 color variations and more than 1,500 distinctive styles.

"Our Chinese knot products are not only favored by domestic consumers but exported to Southeast Asian countries where they are highly sought after by local Chinese communities," Wang said.