Along with “Dongyang wood carving”, Bamboo weaving from this area is known as the rising “sister flowers” of folk arts in the Dongyang riverside. Rich in bamboo resources, Dongyang is one of the main towns in Zhejiang that specializes in bamboo weaving.

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), bamboo weaving was used for lanterns during the Lantern Festival held on the fifteenth day of the first month of the New Year. The villagers of Dongyang would skillfully weave decorative and colourful lanterns to attach to street lamps around the town. 

The weaving is tight and delicate with one square inch needing one hundred and twenty tiny bamboo strips. The woven crafts from Dongyang are uniquely vivid and feature exaggerated features. They are often colourfully decorated through gilding, printing and engraving.

There are a number of possible objects and works which can be formed from bamboo weaving. They include baskets, plates, bags, boxes, bottles, jars, furniture and animal and human figures.

Dongyang bamboo weaving has been perfected by craftsmen over the centuries and transformed into an honoured folk craft. Known for its well crafted and exaggeration forms, Dongyang bamboo weaving is a regional icon of Zhejiang.