Rattan weaving helps Du'an's rural vitalization

"Rattan weaving" is an intangible cultural heritage (ICH) practice in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The development of this ICH industry in Disu town, Hechi's Du'an Yao autonomous county has boosted the local rural vitalization.

Disu town currently has 26 rattan weaving enterprises with self-operated import and export rights, producing more than 300 series of more than 15,000 varieties. This practice benefits villages in 19 country towns with more than 50,000 people engaged in the rattan weaving industry.

Some finished rattan weaving crafts from Disu town. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

Wei Yuhong, director of the village committee of Danyang village, Disu town, said: "Our rattan products are exported to more than 20 countries such as the United States, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, and Australia. To date, there are 15 rattan weaving factories operating on a large scale in the village.”

In recent years, the government of Disu town actively assisted rattan weaving enterprises in various villages in terms of land use, labor, warehousing, and logistics to help enterprises overcome the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. At the same time, local government carried out skills training workshops to further improve the weaving skills of employees and increase employment.

The main body of the 600-square-meter rattan ICH exhibition hall built in Danyang village has been completed with an aid of 2.6 million yuan ($410,202) from Guangdong province. After its completion, it will drive the town's weaving households to carry out online sales through an e-commerce platform and expand the brand influence of the county's bamboo and rattan weaving industries.

Wei Tao, secretary of the Party committee of Disu town, said: "Demonstration villages such as Dading village and Danyang village will be built by integrating characteristic industries, entertainment, and tourism with an output value aim of 100 million yuan."