Suzhou fans have been a large part of China's traditional culture and heritage for centuries and are still considered a national folk craft. Located in the Jiangsu province, Suzhou is one of the main centers for the production of Chinese fans along with Hangzhou in Zhejiang province.

There are many categories of fans made within Suzhou. Folding fans, silk palace fans and sandalwood fans are the most commonly known choices.

Folding fans feature two main designs. They can either be made out of many thin slats of wood held together by thread and wire or they can be made from delicate rice paper or cotton glued to a bow-like frame. The frame of the fan is usually made from precious scented woods such as sandalwood and rosewood. Artisans can tell the quality of the wood by its aroma. There are many types of folding fans including hand painted fans, single and double-sided embroidered fans and dyed fans.

Sandal wood fans feature zigzag shaped steel thread which is placed from one end of a bow to the other. Scented sandalwood is used for both the frame and slats. The term “ironing flowers” is used to describe the images drawn on the wood with an iron pen. The drawings on the upper half of the material are called “drawing flowers”. Sandalwood is known for its inviting scent and an invigorating aroma is produced when the fan is waved. 

Silk palace fans are highly regarded as the most exquisite form of fan making. Unlike most Suzhou fans, they do not fold and feature a long handle. They derive from the servant fans used to cool the emperor in the imperial palace. They were first produced for the imperial palace in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and gained popularity in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The handle can be made from precious woods, bamboo, animal bones or ivory. The shape of the fan can be either round, hexagonal or rectangle.

Fans can feature a number of images and patterns however lattice work patterns are mainly featured on the wooden handles and frames. Painted and engraved images on the silk and paper include landscapes, flowers and auspicious symbols.

All varieties of handmade fans follow a similar procedure. Individual wooden leaves are shaped to create the basic frame of the fan. The lattice patterns are then carved into the frame using a traditional engraving tool. Wire is then used to create the desired pattern by rubbing away the wood. Decorations are singed onto the wood with an electrical tool similar to a soldering iron. Dark lines are created by pressing the tip directly on the wood while shading requires the artisan to slowly rub the side of the tool along the surface. For paper fans, rice paper is used as the surface and decorated with either calligraphy or paintings. 

Fans were first introduced to Suzhou in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). They were made from bamboo slats and silk. Only noble women were allowed to use silk fans during this era as they were regarded as a symbol of wealth and class. They soon became a favourite accessory for scholars who would wave them to show their gracefulness as they sat in deep thought or composed poetry. Suzhou became the centre of production for fans during the Yuan (1271-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) Dynasties. Suzhou fans were a common accessory of the imperial family during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Folding fans were often given to aristocrats and foreign guests as a representative treasure from Suzhou. It was also common for people to present fans to others with auspicious messages written or engraved on fans.

Today, the tradition of making fans by hand is under threat by machine mass production. There is no comparison between a handmade Suzhou fan and one created by machine. Handmade Suzhou fans are delicate yet durable and feature authentic, elegant designs which are admired throughout the world. They remain a cherished folk craft in Suzhou and are listed as a part of the Chinese intangible cultural heritage.