In the quaint town of Ganzhu Township in Guangchang County, Jiangxi Province, nestled in east China, the art of crafting wooden fans has been brought to life in ways that resonate both with tradition and modern commerce. With her paintbrush in hand, Yu Xiuying, an artist with 14 years of experience, meticulously paints delicate floral designs on the wooden fans, creating an object of beauty and function.
Yu’s canvas, the wooden fan, captures an essence of Chinese artistry that has become a symbol of the township’s economic vitality. “Now I decorate at least 120 fans a day,” Yu shares, speaking to the uptick in demand for these handcrafted fans. As the market shows signs of recovery, orders have skyrocketed, attesting to the allure and appeal of these finely crafted objects.
Interestingly, these intricate fans find their way not just in China but have garnered a considerable market in Spain. This international demand for Ganzhu’s fans has catalyzed an industry that today employs over 5,000 of the town’s 28,000 residents. With an annual production exceeding 70 million fans, the town has firmly etched its name as a hub of wooden fan craftsmanship, generating an impressive revenue of over 300 million yuan (equivalent to about 41.78 million US dollars).
The roots of Ganzhu’s fan industry trace back to the early 1980s. Liu Bingzhao, a resident of Ganzhu, had an epiphany during a visit to Suzhou City in Jiangsu. Observing locals and tourists alike clutching sandalwood fans in every nook and corner of the city, Liu sensed an opportunity. This observation was not just confined to Suzhou. Coastal regions nearby showcased a similar trend. Armed with this market insight, Liu and a group of peers embarked on a journey to learn the intricate art of fan-making.
By 1984, Liu had acquired the requisite knowledge and resources to set up shop in Ganzhu Township. Liu recalls, “We brought technicians and equipment back to Ganzhu Township, and raised nearly 20,000 yuan to set up a processing plant.” As time progressed, the fan industry in Ganzhu expanded its horizons. Cities like Suzhou, Beijing, and Guangzhou became familiar with Ganzhu’s signature fans. By 2003, a significant milestone was reached with the establishment of the Jiangxi Shenglian Fan Development Company Limited.
As European markets, notably Spain, developed a fondness for these fans, the export network expanded. “At the end of each year, Spanish merchants book orders for the coming year,” Liu elaborates. He proudly notes that these wooden fans, primarily bound for Spain, have become the cornerstone of his business empire, with orders surpassing a million fans annually.
Today, Ganzhu Township is home to more than 200 enterprises dedicated to crafting these fans. Luo Shuiwen, a local entrepreneur who opened a workshop in 2019, comments on the thriving business, “I don’t have much space here, but I sell more than 400,000 Spanish wooden fans a year.”
The industry’s evolution doesn’t stop there. With advanced technological interventions like UV flatbed printers, production efficiency has soared. Wang Honglu, a company owner, remarks on how technology has helped meet European demands for standardized mass production.
Ganzhu’s ambition is further evident in the recent commencement of a fan industrial park. This park, spanning 110 mu (approximately 7.3 hectares) and with an investment of 2 billion yuan, aims to standardize and brand the fan industry. Jie Xiaomao, a Ganzhu Township official, speaks of the vision, emphasizing the government’s commitment to refining the industry, streamlining the production process, and amplifying the town’s reputation as a wooden fan powerhouse.
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