A big money made in willow making

Willow grows in profusion in Huoqiu County, Liu'an City, Anhui Province. In recent years, local farmers  take full advantage of willow and bamboo materials used to function as firewood to produce 18 series of more than 20, 000 kinds of hand woven willow crafts that are thought to be low carbon and environmentally friendly.

Now, over 300,000 employers are occupied in basket manufacturing, with a per capita income of 8,000 yuan in this field. These products are exported to more than 30 countries and regions, including USA, Japan, Germany, French, Australia and England.

During the past, raw materials for basket making limited in the natural willow, and after finishing tasks of weaving them, these products were usually sold in a primary color. Through years of exploration, we learn dyeing, painting, fumigation, polishing and waxing for baskets now. Moreover, weavers and factories there have developed simple wicker woven basket to mixed basket such as wicker baskets mixed with straw, bamboo, willow or wood, and willow baskets mixed with strand / rope, or iron, and now 18 major series of about twenty thousand varieties of woven baskets are available.

Companies built in Huoqiu also attach great importance to the development of new willow products.

It is reported that many basketmaking enterprises there are beginning a variety of operations in recent years.

It is worth noting that in early 2009, Huoqiu willow weaving was included as national geographical indications protection products. Not long ago, China Huoqiu willow weaving was listed as the third batch of national intangible cultural heritage.
 

Dry willows to be transported to basket making factories.

Willow baskets are being labeled to export to foreign countries.

Willow fruit baskets being placed in the sun to keep dry

Golden willow baskets for delivery

Willow baskets on display

Customers are choosing willow baskets.

 Willow gift baskets