An artwork called Along the River During the Qingming Festival, or Qingming Shanghe Tu -- recreated on a piece of huanghuali wood is displayed in Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province on Sept 1. [Photo/IC]

Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province announced on Dec 18 it would build the largest research and development and manufacturing center for bespoke redwood furniture in the province.

The industrial park covers just under 8 hectares and will feature standard and special designed production plants, office buildings, masters' workshops, exhibition halls, designing centers and other facilities.

Construction of the park has almost been completed and it is now inviting businesses to set up operations there.

Redwood carving and furniture making techniques in Nantong have a history dating back over 600 years. The pieces include beds, desks, cabinets, chairs, tea tables, abacuses, chopsticks and birdcages.

The city boasts the most redwood-carving masters in Jiangsu and is home to more than 600 redwood manufacturing businesses. More than 35,000 people are currently engaged in the industry.

Nantong's redwood furniture won international recognition as early as the 1980s, due to the ingenious designs, clear grains and exquisite workmanship, said Ji Lin, chairman of the city's redwood furniture association.

"Even so, the city has not built its own brands yet," Ji added.

He pointed out that the local redwood furniture industry still retained traditional production scales and operating methods, lagging far behind the modern furniture industry.

The new industrial park is expected to help resolve the problem, according to its builders. They said the park will become a comprehensive platform for exchanges on furniture techniques, passing on the skills -- as well as for innovation, cultural tourism and incubating new businesses.