A man carves redwood at a workshop in Hai’an, a county-level city in Nantong, on Sept 1. [Photo/IC]

A redwood carving class opened at Nantong University in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, on Sept 19.

It was arranged by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, with more than 60 intangible cultural heritage practitioners, designers, and researchers from across the country taking part.

Nantong’s redwood carving techniques have a long history, and the city produces a variety of products, including beds, closets, desks, abacuses, chessboards, and birdcages. The city’s redwood carving techniques were listed as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage item in 2011.

To date, the city is home to six redwood carving industrial clusters and more than 600 related businesses, with more than 30,000 people working in the sector.

During the class, participants will visit local redwood carving markets and interact with local craftspeople. 

The activity is expected to boost the development of the redwood carving industry in Nantong and help raise the city’s profile in the field.