Dog's Bistro [Photo provided to China Daily]

Bamboo products

A show displaying products made by designers and artisans in Bishan opened in the exhibition center early this year and attracted hundreds of curious locals. Yao Jiaju, a craftsman who makes articles using bamboo strips, has his products on display in the exhibition.

"I never realized products made of bamboo strips could really be treated as works of art," Yao, 65, says. Like the village as a whole, he had to adapt over the years as the urban exodus took hold. He lost the three apprentices he used to employ, and he was forced to do something else to make a living.

"With bamboo it was next to impossible to support my family," he says.

However, a year ago several designers suggested he could work with them in producing goods made of bamboo. Years ago many in the village made their living that way thanks to the abundance of bamboo in the area, but Yao was convinced that any potential buyers of such goods in cities had written off the craft as not worth the candle.

Now Yao's products include a Chinese chessboard, covers and caps for cups and bottles, all made with bamboo strips.

"They're different to what I used to do. These designs are more delicate and refined."

If these items sell well his children who live in a town may even be able to return to the village and learn the craft from him, he says.

Zhou Yi, who stayed at Bishan for several months and helped organize the exhibition, says most villagers seemed a little dubious when they were told items made by ironsmiths, carpenters and lacquer workers in their village would be on displayed in the show.

In fact, at first locals regarded the show in the exhibition center as alien as a bar that sells margaritas and a bookshop in the village whose wares include a biography of the American pop art exponent Andy Warhol.

Explaining the raison d'etre for the exhibition, Zhou says: "Travelers are intrigued by the local culture and landscape. At the same time, villagers can make a living out of crafts and tourist-related business."

It is also a public space for locals to read books, listen to lectures and visit shows, she says.

With a plethora of cultural activities, Bishan has attracted attention from media and tourists from around the world to visit the village.