ICH crafts revitalized in Shandong's Linqu

Located in the Yimeng Mountain area, Linqu in Weifang, Shandong province boasts a rich history and culture, with over 200 intangible cultural heritage items scattered across its villages. Among them, bizi, a cooking utensil made from sorghum stalks, is receiving increasing attention.

Liu Yueqing, the inheritor of this craft, injured his hands at the age of 22, resulting in a permanent disability. Since then, he has immersed himself in the craft of bizi and committed himself to its preservation.

Liu Yueqing weaves bizi, a cooking utensil made from sorghum stalks. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In 2018, Liu established a handmade woven goods processing factory. He understands that reviving old crafts requires not only technical skills but also craftsmanship and creativity.

"In the past, making bizi relied solely on experience. The current trend is to infuse traditional objects with fashionable cultural elements, integrating them into people's modern lives," he said.

With the support of the local government, he has created innovative cultural and creative products, selling them through live streams and Douyin e-commerce platforms, leading to a continuous increase in product prices. Additionally, he has employed fellow villagers in his processing factory, guiding them towards shared prosperity.