He Fuli shows skills of Dongyang bamboo weaving. [Photo/Gongshu Media Center]

He Fuli, a national master of arts and crafts, has opened the first bamboo weaving museum in Yiwu, Zhejiang province.

He began his journey as an apprentice in a bamboo weaving factory in Dongyang when he was 15 years old. After decades of hard work and innovation, he has created numerous bamboo weaving masterpieces. He was even invited to create a 2,500-meter-long bamboo dragon for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's return to China in 1997, setting a Guinness World Record for the longest dragon dance.

A bamboo work of the Red Boat docked at Nanhu Lake Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

The He Fuli Bamboo Weaving Art Museum is located in Qiyi village in Chengxi sub-district, Yiwu. The museum was listed as a provincial rural museum in Zhejiang in 2022.

It showcases over 1,000 bamboo weaving works, including more than 20 national award-winning works. It is made up of five exhibition areas, including award-winning works, biomimetic animals, people's stories, daily necessities, and folk culture. Visitors can appreciate the exquisite details of each work, from lifelike biomimetic animals to intricate miniature boats.

Two bamboo-weaving giraffes stand at the museum of He Fuli. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

Wu Hongbiao, a museum employee, emphasized that the artworks are based on realism, and every detail is carefully crafted to create the most realistic portrayal of the subject. Visitors to the museum have been impressed by the high level of craftsmanship displayed at the exhibits, with many surprised to learn that bamboo weaving is capable of such a high level of artistic expression.

The museum is expected to attract tourists and researchers from all over the world who are interested in traditional Chinese arts and crafts, and it is hoped that this new museum will encourage more young people to engage in the art of bamboo weaving and carry forward the spirit of the Chinese artisan.