Yiyang specialty: Yiyang water bamboo mats

Located in the downstream of the Zishui River in northern Hunan province, bordering Dongting Lake, Yiyang is the home of Chinese water bamboo mats.

As early as the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), farmers around the Maozhu Lake have applied fine and tenacious water bamboos to weave summer sleeping mats. Every family in the region knows how to weave bed mats for summer.

Yiyang water bamboo mats are processed under 13 manual procedures including chopping bamboos, preparing the materials, thinning bamboo strips, drawing wires, stewing, weaving and overlocking. When bamboo strips are steamed, the mats become more flexible, are devoid of bamboo powder insects, are attractive and durable, and facilitate heat dissipation. The Yiyang "Panda" brand water bamboo mats were given a silver cup at the national arts and crafts Hundred Flowers Awards.