A bird's-eye view of Xiangyang village. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

This summer in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, seems particularly long, and everyone yearns for tremendous relief. While air conditioning has become a household staple, does anyone still remember the Yangxian jade bamboo fan?

In the Yixing Yangxian Ecotourism Resort, there is a village called Xiangyang. Surrounded by lush bamboo groves, rolling green hills, and crystal-clear waters, it looks like a scene straight out of a fairy tale. The abundant bamboo in the area is perfect for crafting jade bamboo fans.

Jade bamboo fans. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

The jade bamboo fan, also known as the plain bamboo folding fan, is named for its fan ribs, which are smooth and delicate like jade and have a lustrous color. It is called plain bamboo because its surface is as calm as water, elegant and refined. In 2016, the Yixing folding fan making technique became a municipal intangible cultural heritage item.

Creating a jade bamboo fan involves over 100 meticulous steps, including selecting the bamboo, splitting, boiling, drying, shaping, polishing, and waxing. The process is both exquisite and demanding. The fan surface is made with handmade Xuan paper, requiring nearly 20 steps to complete, and calligraphers and painters delicately illustrate on the fan, with ink that resists penetration.

Equally remarkable is the bamboo weaving craftsmanship in Yixing. The resilient bamboo, shaped by their skilled hands, becomes simple yet exquisite everyday items.

Xiangyang villager weaves a basket with bamboo strips. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]