"Absolutely exquisite! The techniques of traditional Chinese handicrafts are so delicate and wonderful, and the products are both practical and beautiful..." On May 19th, at the 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industry Fair, the exquisite Qingshen bamboo weaving products attracted the attention of many visitors.

For such praise, the exhibitors have long been used to it. In recent years, through the two - way efforts of "going global" and "bringing in", the national - level Qingshen bamboo weaving art has taught skills to more than 10,000 students, making bamboo weaving not only a beauty of artifacts but also a green bond of the community with a shared future for mankind.

Sparking Skills in International Classes

"During this training, we will continue to share and teach our techniques without reservation, making greater contributions to promoting the development and utilization of bamboo resources and green sustainable development in China and Guinea." Recently, at the Bamboo and Rattan Weaving Technology Training Class for Guinea held at the Qingshen Bamboo Weaving Technology Training Base, lecturer Zhao Shuang said.

In the training class, with a light stroke of the bamboo knife, the green bamboo was instantly divided into 32 uniform bamboo strips, and the bamboo strips were transformed into thin bamboo filaments, drawing a beautiful arc in the air... The artisans' exquisite skills constantly broke the students' original perception. "The wisdom of Chinese artisans in handling materials is very inspiring for us to develop local resources!" said trainee Abubakar Bangura. After attending the training in Qingshen last time, he returned to his hometown and founded his own enterprise. He hopes to further improve himself in terms of technology and ideology through this training.

This is the third consecutive year that the International Bamboo and Rattan Center has held international bamboo weaving skill training classes in Qingshen County. It is understood that under the strong promotion of the "Belt and Road" initiative, in recent years, the Qingshen County Bamboo Weaving Technology Training Base has undertaken many international training classes, providing bamboo weaving skill training for more than 5,000 foreign students. Through the learning and inheritance of bamboo weaving skills, not only exquisite bamboo products have been woven, but also a bond of friendship between China and foreign countries has been woven, contributing Qingshen's strength to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Twenty - three Years of Transnational Inheritance

In 2001, Chen Yunhua, a national - level representative inheritor of Qingshen bamboo weaving, gave the first class to foreign students, kicking off the global spread of bamboo weaving skills. From the rags - to - riches story of "weaving for buildings and cars" to the development of 25 categories and more than 3,000 kinds of bamboo weaving products, this intangible cultural heritage art has accelerated its pace of going global under the promotion of the "Belt and Road" initiative.

Chen Yunhua and other artisans have cumulatively taught in 26 countries, staying abroad for more than half a year at the peak. Now, the "offshore teaching + on - site training" model has established 61 teaching - learning centers and 17 training points in the countries and regions along the "Belt and Road", with the number of trained students exceeding 10,000.

In 2021, breaking through the limitations of offline time and venue, the Qingshen bamboo weaving class was moved "online". In December of that year, Chen Yunhua led foreign students on a "cloud tour" of the Bamboo Weaving Exposition Hall through live broadcast and demonstrated the weaving techniques online. From the grip of the bamboo knife to the separation of the bamboo filaments, he repeatedly disassembled the movements to ensure that the students in front of the screen could learn and use them.

"On Teachers' Day in 2023, the bamboo - woven rose woven by Guinean students after class was the most special gift I have ever received." Chen Yunhua said with a smile. This inheritance across the mountains and seas is still being continued in the cloud and offline.

Bamboo Expo Connecting the World

During the 2024 China International Bamboo Industry Fair, in the 13,000 - square - meter exhibition area, tens of thousands of products in seven major sectors such as "bamboo replacing plastic", intangible cultural heritage, and bamboo food were centrally displayed, and 260 exhibitors gathered together. During the expo, activities such as theme seminars, overseas market expansion meetings, and bamboo industry promotion meetings were held one after another, building a global bamboo industry exchange platform.

Saudi enterprises became the focus of the exhibition. To meet the "2030 Vision", through the introduction of the cross - border e - commerce "Manzhuli", Saudi representatives inspected the full - scene "bamboo replacing plastic" life in Qingshen, planning to "reproduce" the Bamboo Courtyard one - to - one and build a world - class hotel. The Meishan Import and Export Chamber of Commerce held a Bamboo Industry Going - Global Forum to help foreign guests understand the bamboo - hotel supply chain. "Only the Bamboo Expo can provide such a comprehensive industrial chain inspection opportunity." said Zou Song, the person in charge of Manzhuli. After the Bamboo Expo was upgraded to an international exhibition in 2018, Manzhuli has sold Qingshen products to 58 countries and regions around the world.

The exhibition not only helps cross - border e - commerce but also focuses on the innovation of the bamboo industry. The bamboo - made "plant sound player" brought by German - American Goren attracted much attention. Its patented technology converts plant electrical impulses into music, and the bamboo - made shell is both environmentally friendly and enhances the sense of immersion. This product, which has been exported for seven years, made its first attempt in the domestic market through the Bamboo Expo. In addition, new products such as German - craft bamboo beer and bamboo - fiber agricultural mulch also made their debuts, showing the diverse possibilities of the bamboo industry.

From the display of traditional skills to the coordination of the industrial chain, from local practice to global cooperation, the Qingshen Bamboo Expo is promoting the implementation of the "bamboo replacing plastic" concept with an open attitude, writing a new chapter in the high - quality development of the bamboo industry. (Text/Photos by Wu Min)