Match industry seeks its place in the sun

Hangzhou firm looks to safeguard China's heritage and expertise in ancient craft

For thousands of years, the ancient Chinese started fires like other ancient cultures - they used small pieces of wood or twisted rope as kindling; struck flint against rocks containing iron pyrite or steel; or used coals kept burning in shells, bone or horn.

It was in the middle of the 18th century that wooden matches were first introduced to China, thus becoming an essential part of Chinese people's everyday lives.