Young entrepreneur eager to revive bamboo culture

[Photo provided to China Daily]

He develops not only items based on traditional styles but also such products as hairpins and earrings. Besides cooperating with high-end brands, Qian has developed a way to promote bamboo products.

Inspired by the concept of such crafts as cross-stitch, which enable women to make pendant for their darlings, or make stitched versions of a famous painting such as Van Gogh's Starry Sky, Qian chose 24 kinds of useful bamboo products that are easier yet still interesting to make. People can buy semi-finished products and make their own bamboo table mats, fruit trays and small baskets.

Not only can people buy all these products on Qian's online shop on Taobao, they can also learn how to make the products by watching Qian's video on Phoenix Tea.

For instance, Phoenix Tea promotes Qian's products and the online classes through its offices at Peking University and Shandong University. Students can buy a package of bamboo strips and watch the video to learn how to make different pieces.

"Currently, the most important thing for me is to promote the lifestyle of bamboo. It's something interesting, something that makes your life more colorful, rather than an old craft that is going to disappear. Then, this craft can survive," he says.