Fish-shaped bamboo handicrafts are displayed. [Photo/Tide News]

Longyou county in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, known as the "Repository of Bamboo in West Zhejiang", boasts 27,093 hectares of bamboo forests and an annual reserve of 88 million moso bamboo plants.

The Craftsmanship Workshop in Longyou's Miaoxia township recently used local bamboo to make intricately woven handicrafts in the shape of fish and horses.

These crafts, which blend traditional bamboo weaving with modern design, are becoming sought-after decorations in malls and parks, providing new income avenues for rural families.

The fish-shaped bamboo handicrafts, crafted using traditional hexagonal weaving, retain the bamboo's natural texture, symbolizing "abundance year after year". Workshop head Zou Xia noted their popularity, with parks ordering them in bulk for landscape decoration.

A piece of horse-shaped bamboo handicraft is displayed. [Photo/Tide News]

The workshop's product lineup also features 2.2-meter-high horse-shaped bamboo handicrafts, crafted using traditional methods that ensure durability without nails. This design is becoming increasingly popular to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Horse in China.

Since its opening in October, the workshop has received orders worth 300,000 yuan ($42,587). Its business model involves local collectives providing space, companies handling sales, and workers being paid per piece.

With plans to expand operations and employ more locals, the workshop aims to further boost local employment and economic growth. It also seeks to cooperate with schools and institutions in cultural education programs.