Chinese oil-paper umbrellas sell well abroad
Female villagers make oil-paper umbrellas at a workshop in Fuyang district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, April 23. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]
Wen Shishan, a craftsman in Fuyang district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has been dedicated to the making of oil-paper umbrellas for over 30 years.
The production of these traditional umbrellas requires skilled hands and technique as well as years of experience. Under Wen's guidance, a group of apprentices is involved in the time-honored handicraft.
In recent years, Chinese oil-paper umbrellas featuring the ancient country's profound culture, have gained popularity across the world, earning local businesses greater profits.
Currently, Wen's workshop produces more than 30,000 umbrellas a year, 80 percent of which are sold to foreign countries and regions such as Japan, South Korea and North America.