Miaoshan town in Shandong's Linyi city has long been hailed as the "hometown of China's wicker weaving workmanship", where the traditional handicraft has a history of more than 600 years.

Wickerwork is a way of life for local famers, with many learning the craft as children. Therefore, having the opportunity to transform their skills to create income is invaluable.

The town is now selling wicker items to the whole country thanks to China's booming e-commerce sector.

According to an officer from the local government, there are approximately 18,000 farmers engaging in the business. A total of 462 online shops have been set up, with sales exceeding 200 million yuan ($29 million) for three consecutive years.

With the help of the local government, three export companies have been set up to bring the traditional wicker items to the whole world, earning foreign exchange of 3 million yuan annually.

Xuezhuang village is one of the many success stories of the town, with every family in the village engaging in the business via e-commerce platforms.

An e-commerce industrial park has also been set up in the village, which has housed 36 local sellers and is equipped with a logistic center, a wickerwork exhibition hall, an e-commerce business training center and a wickerwork museum.

The wickerwork exhibition hall of Xuezhuang village displays various wickerwork from furniture, decorations, kitchen items to pet supplies in Miaoshan town, Linyi, Shandong province. [Photo by Ding Yuanyuan/chinadaily.com.cn]

All sorts of wickerwork are displayed at the wickerwork exhibition hall in Xuezhuang village, attracting many visitors and buyers. The village's wickerwork enjoys fame both home and abroad for the white, soft, smooth wickers grown here and the local people's exquisite weaving skills. [Photo by Ding Yuanyuan/chinadaily.com.cn]   

Two farmers focus on wickerwork making at a work shop in Xuezhuang village, Miaoshan town, Linyi, Shandong province. [Photo by Ding Yuanyuan/chinadaily.com.cn]