Shandong holds China Willow Weaving Cultural Industry Fair

The ongoing ninth China (Linshu) Willow Weaving Cultural Industry Fair opened on Nov 1 in Linshu county – located in Linyi city in East China's Shandong province – and runs to Nov 5.

During the opening ceremony, Saad Al-Qaddumi, president of the World Crafts Council – a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1964 to help craftspeople worldwide – delivered a keynote speech.

He spoke highly of the rich cultural heritage and superb craftsmanship of Linshu's willow weaving tradition, emphasizing its contribution to boosting the incomes of local residents.

It's all action at the opening of the ninth China (Linshu) Willow Weaving Cultural Industry Fair. [Photo by Chen Xiutao for chinadaily.com.cn]

This year's fair features eight themed activities – including the expo and sale of willow weaving crafts, a willow weaving product creative design competition and the Chinese willow weaving industry innovation and development seminar.

The goal is to promote the local willow weaving sector and extend its deep integration with cultural and tourism development.

In recent years, Linshu has transformed small willow branches into a substantial industry, fostering a complete industrial supply chain encompassing cultivation, processing, research and development and foreign trade.

With over 30 registered brand names and more than 360 patents applied for, Linshu willow weaving has been included in the national intangible cultural heritage project list.

Linshu itself has earned recognition as a hometown of Chinese folk art and has been designated as a national export willow weaving demonstration zone with high quality. (Edited by Zhou Yunlai)