Luo Qisong and Luo Wenchi make fanhuang bamboo carvings together. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Luo Qisong's studio, located in Huangyan district, Taizhou, Zhejiang province, welcomed over 300 students from the East China Normal University Affiliated Taizhou School to explore the art of fanhuang bamboo carving.

Fanhuang bamboo carving is a traditional craft with a history of nearly 200 years. It gets this name from the patterns engraved on the inside of the bamboo, also known as the side of "huang". Huangyan is one of the first areas in China to create this bamboo carving.

Luo Qisong, a national representative inheritor of fanhuang bamboo carving, has played a crucial role in reviving this nearly lost craft.

After retiring in 1995, he spearheaded efforts to preserve the art, leading to the establishment of the Qisong Fanhuang Bamboo Carving Research Institute in 1998 and the opening of the Huangyan Fanhuang Bamboo Carving Art Museum in 2006.

Luo Wenchi, his son, is exploring innovative methods to sustain the art. Inspired by Huangyan's molding industry, Luo applied customized molding techniques in the bamboo-carving process.

Luo divided the process into two parts. One part is the mold production. He uses 3D software to design the pattern, then sends it to a molding factory to process the wood using molding techniques. The other part involves manual work, where he carves patterns on the softened inside of bamboo and finally combines them using an inlay technique.

"It used to take one to two months to make one item entirely by hand, with prices starting at least at 10,000 yuan ($1,375.91). Now, three to four can be made in a day, with prices reduced to several thousand yuan, making them more affordable for the public," said Luo.

Editor: Zhong Xinyi