Zhangwu Bamboo Fan, a cherished intangible cultural heritage in Zhangwu town, Anji county, Huzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: huzhoufabu]

The Zhangwu Bamboo Fan Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop in Zhangwu town, Anji county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, has gained national recognition for its initiative, "Zhangwu bamboo fan: Empowering youth to build beautiful villages". 

This project was recently listed among the second batch of typical cases of intangible cultural heritage workshops, released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Serving as a hub for cultural innovation, the Zhangwu Bamboo Fan Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop integrates research and development, production, and hands-on education. By partnering with local farmers through order-based collaborations, it preserves bamboo fan-making traditions while increasing the community's income.

Thanks to the workshop's efforts, fan-makers now make up 10 percent of the town's population. 11 master studios have been established, nurturing one provincial arts and crafts master, 12 municipal-level inheritors, and 69 county-level inheritors.

Notably, the initiative has engaged younger generations, inspiring them to pursue rural careers and contribute to revitalization.