Wickerwork boosts rural revitalization in Linshu, Shandong

LINSHU, China, Feb. 7, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–



Linshu County of Linyi, Shandong has seen a significant boost in its economy thanks to the thriving wickerwork industry. Woven by skilled locals, the rough and smooth wickers have proven to be an effective means of increasing income and developing the industry.

It’s a common sight to see peeled wickers neatly piled up in front of almost every home at Zhucui Village of Qingyun Town, Linshu County. Women gather to do wickerwork while chatting with each other. The wickerwork workshops are filled with workers making crafts and household items with great skill and care. Almost every household grows willows and every villager is busy making baskets throughout the year.

Traditional wickerwork is a skill mastered by almost everybody in every household, as revealed by Du Lanying, a 72-year-old local villager. There are about 2,000 wicker processing spots across the county, which have made full use of local labor and created jobs for nearly 100,000 people.

“Left-behind women and elders from nearby are hired at these processing spots and earn an income of 40-50 yuan per day. They can chat while working, making it a pleasurable experience instead of a tedious one,” said Xie Yujie, who has hired more than 30 locals as the orders increased at his processing spot.

The technique of wickerwork has been around for thousands of years and is still thriving in the county. Willow trees are widely grown across the area and have been used for centuries to create wickerwork.

Currently, the county’s willow growing base has reached 100,000 mu, with 50,000 rural households engaged in the industry. Now the county’s wickerwork craft industry has more than 390 enterprises, achieving an export amount of 2.274 billion yuan, accounting for 53.88% of the county’s total export volume, according to Ma Xiushan, deputy director of the county’s business development service center.

The success of wickerwork in Linshu County can be attributed to the great support of the local Party committee and government. In recent years, Linshu County has been actively promoting rural revitalization, and the wickerwork industry has played a significant role in this initiative. The county has implemented measures to help farmers increase their income and improve their quality of life. It has set up a chamber of wickerwork crafts and organized around 80 enterprises to open hundreds of wickerwork and fabric processing spots and workshops in each town. This has expanded the enterprises and increased the collective income and the income of the local people.

The old technique of wickerwork, which has been around for thousands of years, continues to contribute to the growth and development of the local economy. Thanks to the collective efforts of the local government and the community, the industry has flourished, and the county has become a hub of wickerwork crafts. With its rich cultural heritage and the dedication of its skilled local residents, Linshu County is well on its way to achieving sustainable rural revitalization.

Source: People’s Government of Linyi