[2024 Dongyang Attraction] Travel Guide for Dongyang Woodcarving Town (Updated Nov)
Towns
Address:
Provincial Highway 211, Dongyang City, Jinhua City
Opening times:
Open year round, 24/7Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
2-3 hours
Phone:
0579-89326111
Dongyang Woodcarving Town, a gathering place for woodcarving masters
Zhejiang Dongyang is known as the 'Capital of Woodcarving and Film City.' If friends from other places want to appreciate the charm of Dongyang woodcarving, we usually recommend the China Woodcarving Museum, the Luzhai Ancient Architecture Complex, and the national cultural heritage units scattered in the countryside, but rarely suggest visiting the Woodcarving Town.
Although the Woodcarving Town gathers more than twenty provincial-level and above master studios, these studios open and close unpredictably. Moreover, just walking around without buying anything feels a bit awkward.
However, if you want to deeply understand the profound Dongyang woodcarving culture, the Woodcarving Town is still worth a visit. It is a provincial-level characteristic town with a total investment of 5.5 billion yuan, and construction has not stopped in recent years. In addition to master studios, there are also urban living rooms showcasing Dongyang woodcarving culture, exquisite ancient architecture complexes, and Zhejiang's top student research centers.
The main buildings of the Woodcarving Town reflect the strong Dongyang architectural style. Some say that Huizhou architecture is just a branch of Dongyang architecture. Although this may seem like self-praise, most of the exquisite three carvings on Huizhou architecture were indeed crafted by Dongyang artisans.
However, the artisans of that time were essentially just workers trying to make a living, which aligns with the lyrics 'The crescent moon shines on the high building, the high building was built by the poor.' Today's art masters have their own woodcarving or bamboo weaving enterprises, employing many workers and becoming part of the first group to prosper after the reform and opening up. Their production, display, and sales venues are not limited to the Woodcarving Town, which is one reason why the art studios are often closed.
📍Detailed Address: Woodcarving Town, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province
Ticket Price: Free
⏳Recommended Time: 2 hours
HarmoniousEscapes
Li Qiang Wood Carving Art Museum, Masterful Wood Carving of the Universe, Skillful Hands Sculpting the World
Li Qiang, a master of traditional Chinese craftsmanship, Vice President of Zhejiang Province Arts and Crafts Association, and member of the China Arts and Crafts Association, began working at the Dongyang Wood Carving Factory at the age of 17. He is one of the most innovative wood carving artists in the field of Dongyang wood carving.
Masterful Wood Carving of the Universe, Skillful Hands Sculpting the World. In the ever-changing shadows of the knife, lively figures leap out, and beautiful pictures gradually unfold. Entering the Li Qiang Wood Carving Art Museum, one is greeted with exquisite wood carving artworks.
Li Qiang specializes in Dongyang wood carving decorations, wood carving crafts, and furniture design. His wood carving works feature novel compositions and meticulous carvings. Over his 40-year career in wood carving, he has won more than 30 national and provincial gold, silver, and bronze awards. Award-winning works include 'Three Friends', 'Hundred Tigers', 'Scenic Views of the Country', 'Riding in the Mountains and Streams', 'Abundance Year After Year', 'Holy Mountain and Beautiful Water', 'Cold Sparrows', '108 Heroes of Water Margin', 'Spring in the Garden', and more.
📍Detailed Address: Wood Carving Town, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province
Ticket Price: Free
HarmoniousEscapes
Xialang Art Museum, the pioneer of the 'Wood Carving Cloud and Mist Craft'
Xialang, born in 1970 in Shengzhou, Zhejiang Province, is a senior arts and crafts artist, the first 'China Wood Carving Champion', the first 'China Wood Carving Art Master', and was awarded the title of 'China Wood (Bamboo) Carving Gold Hand' in 2012. His works have been repeatedly selected for major international summits such as the G20. At China's first 'Yiding Cup' Wood Carving On-site Creation Competition, his work 'United as One' (Figure 5) won the only gold medal.
From Shengzhou to Dongyang, and from Dongyang city to the Wood Carving Town, Xialang has been continuously innovating and pursuing art. Led by him, the Xialang Carving Team pioneered the 'Wood Carving Cloud and Mist Craft'. Combining the artistic conception of Chinese ink painting, they integrated both concrete and abstract treatments of clouds and mist on the basis of traditional Dongyang wood carving, making the shapes flow like air currents, embracing and relying on each other, enhancing the artistic conception of Dongyang wood carving.
The work 'Green Waters and Green Mountains' (Figure 13), carved using the cloud and mist craft, was showcased at an international summit and became a 'classic work' of Xialang. 'High Mountains and Flowing Water' won the gold medal at the 2021 China Arts and Crafts 'Hundred Flowers Cup'.
Xialang Art Museum is located at the west entrance of the Wood Carving Town in Dongyang, with a building area of over 5,000 square meters. It was established in 2014. The museum features a new Chinese architectural style, incorporating traditional Chinese architectural gatehouses and garden designs.
The first and second floors house the Wood Carving Hall, Redwood Furniture Hall, and Creation Room. The third floor is the high-end Redwood Furniture R&D Center, and the fourth floor is the Customer Reception Center. The museum displays Xialang's representative works such as 'United as One', 'Harmony', and 'Green Waters and Green Mountains'.
📍Detailed Address: Wood Carving Town, Dongyang, Zhejiang Province
Ticket Price: Free
HarmoniousEscapes
Luguanghua Art Museum, using bamboo as ink, meticulously compiles calligraphy and painting
Lu Guanghua, a master craftsman in the Asia-Pacific region, a bamboo craft master in the Asia-Pacific region, and a master of Chinese arts and crafts. Born in 1948 in a family of bamboo weaving in Dongyang, Zhejiang. Someone commented on him: 'Guanghua is like bamboo, his appearance is as slender and elegant as bamboo; his integrity is like gold, his character is as firm and strong as bamboo.'
From teacher to bamboo craftsman, and then from bamboo craftsman to master, Lu Guanghua does not follow the usual path. He is best at using bamboo silk to write Chinese calligraphy and painting works. Over the past 60 years, he has created many bamboo woven calligraphy and painting works that are as fine as silk, as thin as silk, and as shiny as satin. They not only maintain the charm of Chinese calligraphy and painting but also reflect the style of Dongyang bamboo weaving. The most splendid are the two-color bamboo woven wall hangings 'Lanting Xu' and 'The Red Cliff Ode by Su Dongpo'.
Luguanghua Art Museum is located in the Woodcarving Town of Dongyang and just opened on January 6, 2024. It is a traditional Dongyang residence with white walls, black tiles, and horsehead walls, covering an area of 5,000 square meters, exhibiting Lu Guanghua's bamboo weaving art works over his sixty-year career.
In addition to bamboo woven calligraphy and painting, the two 'Fishermen' in the museum are also particularly eye-catching. The original creator of 'Fisherman' is Ma Fujin, the 'Top Scholar of Bamboo Weaving'. Together with the 'Nine-Dragon Wall', they represent the highlight of Dongyang bamboo weaving. The creation of 'Fisherman' is extremely difficult, and Lu Guanghua re-wove two 'Fishermen', which also reflects the exquisite bamboo weaving skills from another perspective.
📍Detailed address: Woodcarving Town, Dongyang, Zhejiang Province
Ticket price: Free
HarmoniousEscapes
Dongyang Woodcarving Town - a place with stories, content, and fun
During the May Day holiday, I chose to visit the Dongyang Woodcarving Town scenic area early in the morning. The scenic area is located right next to Liushi Street Town, about a 15-minute drive from Dongyang city center, which is quite convenient. In 2020, Dongyang Woodcarving Town was named by the Zhejiang Provincial Government as the fourth batch of provincial characteristic towns. It is an important carrier for Dongyang to rely on the advantages of the woodcarving and mahogany industry and actively develop the cultural tourism industry. The entire scenic area is scattered along the Shimaxi landscape belt, featuring a visitor center, a town reception hall, a woodcarving and bamboo weaving culture display area, a master's creative park, a woodcarving culture theme park, a camping base, and more, offering plenty of attractions and activities. In summer, you can play in the stream, in spring and autumn, you can camp and barbecue, and in winter, you can enjoy the snow scenery. The key point is that the facilities here are well-equipped, and what's more, it's free.