China News Service, Langfang, June 17th (Song Mintao and Yang Yaqi) "From selecting willows, soaking willows, weaving the bottom, weaving to the closing, there are more than a dozen processes to make, and each process cannot be omitted. The requirements are also very high." On the 17th, walking into Dongli Village, Gu'an County, Langfang City, Hebei Province, Zhang Wanfu, a 40-year-old representative inheritor of willow weaving in Gu'an, showed off a giant flower basket he had recently woven.

  Zhang Wanfu followed his grandfather and father to learn willow weaving in Gu'an since he was a child. He was diligent in learning and inquisitive. He quickly mastered the willow weaving skills and became a famous local willow weaving master.

  "This giant flower basket has been weaved for more than 20 days. The design concept is 'the sky is round and the place is round'. About 300 catties of wicker are used, and various weaving methods such as flat weaving, pull flower weaving, and pattern weaving are used. After coloring and drying , and will also be decorated with flowers and fruits, which means the country's prosperity and prosperity," Zhang Wanfu said.

  "I have been in the willow weaving industry for 24 years, and I am the youngest among the local people who know this craft." Zhang Wanfu said that as a national intangible cultural heritage, Gu'an willow weaving has a long history.

In the 1960s and 1970s, there were 40,000 willow weavers in the local area. When Gu'an Liubian was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2011, there were fewer than 50 willow weavers, and 40 were over 65 years old.

The picture shows the semi-deaf Art Museum in Gu'an County, Hebei Province. Citizens are visiting the giant willow flower baskets.

Photo by Men Congshuo

  In order to pass on the old craftsmanship from generation to generation, Zhang Wanfu often brings willow weaving skills to campuses, communities, and scenic spots, so that more people can come into contact with and understand willow weaving, and pass on this skill.

  Su Ziyu graduated from Beihua Institute of Aerospace Engineering and studied Liubian with Zhang Wanfu for more than 3 months.

"At present, I can already do some simple flat weaving, bottoming, winding, and closing can be done independently." Su Ziyu said that this kind of willow weaving can often remind people of the simple life and happy times of childhood, so it feels very friendly.

  "In addition to inheriting the craftsmanship, I also hope that Gu'an Liubian can transition from practical products to handicrafts, and then to works of art, so as to increase its added value." Today, Zhang Wanfu has inherited the traditional craftsmanship of several generations, and has innovated and creative design. , developed dozens of series and hundreds of varieties, including hanging flower basket series, carrying basket series, plate series, laundry basket series, gardening series, etc. The products are exported to more than 30 countries and regions such as the United States, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

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