A Japanese bonsai museum at the World of Plantings in Rugao [Photo/VCG]

The finals for the bonsai section of the 2019 China Jiangsu Artistry and Skills Contest of Talents from the Countryside was held on Dec 19 in Rugao, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province. A total of 53 craftspeople took part.

Rugao is one of the birthplaces of China's bonsai industry. Bonsai art in the city dates back to the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), said Zhang Jianhua, Party secretary of the city, at the opening ceremony.

The city has not only developed its own internationally-recognized gardening style, but also formed a comprehensive industrial chain involving bonsais, flowers, trees, and gardening projects for the domestic indoor gardening and outdoor landscaping market, Zhang added.

Rugao has already planted more than 1,300 types of flowers and bonsais over an area of 200,000 mu (13,333 hectares), bringing in an annual revenue of more than 20 billion yuan ($2.97 billion).

Many large bonsai events have been hosted in Rugao, attracting experts from countries like Japan, the United States, Germany, and the Czech Republic. The city has also cultivated a large number of bonsai professionals.