Jia Haihua, a professional Yongtai bamboo carver, works at his studio. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Yongtai bamboo carving in Rugao is an intangible cultural heritage item of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province.

The handicraft originated in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and culminated in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Over the past nearly 100 years, Yongtai bamboo carving works have been popular at home and abroad with their unique artistic style and exquisite craftsmanship.

A bamboo carving work by Jia Haihua. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Jia Haihua is a professional Yongtai bamboo carver. Born in 1978, he made it his goal to become a bamboo carver when he was a child and traveled to Shanghai when he was 15 years old to learn about carving, including bamboo carving and wood carving.

In addition to mastering carving skills, a bamboo carver is also required to cultivate skills in calligraphy and painting and strengthen their cultural accomplishments by reading ancient poems and Chinese prose.

Jia teaches students about Yongtai bamboo carving. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Jia said that the most difficult part of bamboo carving is not the carving itself, but deciding what to carve.

He added that he used to get quality bamboo from an old shoulder pole, but he dared not carve the bamboo until he was inspired from a couplet at a local Shuihui Garden.

Jia often visits schools to promote Yongtai bamboo carving and help students develop an interest in the intangible cultural heritage.