NANNING: For decades, China’s internal migration has seen hundreds of millions move from rural areas to cities in search of opportunity, but now a growing number of young urbanites are reversing this trend, drawn to the countryside by new prospects in revitalized rural communities.
Liu Xiabing, weary of the instability in urban office jobs, left the bustling manufacturing hub of Guangdong in southern China to return to her rural hometown, with the aim of reviving her family’s declining bamboo weaving business.
Bamboo weaving has long been the backbone of Xiamu Village in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, sustaining generations with its intricate craft. However, the 2008 financial crisis led to a sharp decline in export orders, leaving warehouses filled with unsold goods and nearly paralyzing the bamboo trade.
By the time Liu returned, only about 30 people in the local township still practiced bamboo weaving, a stark contrast to its heyday when it supported thousands.
Determined to breathe new life into the tradition, the 33-year-old returned brimming with innovative ideas. Her contemporary twist on the ancient craft led to the creation of fresh products, like pet houses and play structures, which quickly gained traction among younger buyers. –Agencies
