A wood-carved chair made by Dongyang enterprise is popular for its ergonomic design. [Photo/Tide News]

Dongyang, a county-level city in Jinhua, Zhejiang province is renowned as the global hub of wood-carving and has in recent years been looking to further boost the industry.

The city's rich wood-carving heritage, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), has been integrated into contemporary living spaces, ushering in a new aesthetic for home decor.

The city's ergonomically designed wood-carved chairs have gained popularity, showcasing a seamless blend of tradition and modernity.

Local furniture enterprises are undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from merely crafting furniture and trading mahogany to curating complete living environments. They are also exploring ways to fuse wood-carving with modern architectural concepts, as evidenced by the attention garnered by a wood-carved log cabin showcased at the 2024 Shanghai Tourism Industry Expo.

Authorities have also channeled more resources into cultivating talent and have established a wood-carving class at several of its vocational high schools.

In addition, efforts are underway to seamlessly integrate wood-carving with industries including construction, decoration, and cultural tourism.

In 2022, the total output value of the city's wood-carving industrial chain was 71.39 billion yuan ($9.85 billion), which increased to 77.03 billion yuan in 2023. In the first quarter of this year, it reached 12.81 billion yuan, year-on-year growth of 10.9 percent.

Editor: Zhong Xinyi