Zheng Xudong gives a final touch-up to his straw kangroo. [Photo/qz828.com]

Zheng Xudong, a native of Jiangshan in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, is famous for his vivid straw plaited art works.

Straw plaiting is an intangible cultural heritage of Jiangshan county-level city, which plaits various pliable herbs into a variety of handiworks.

The 54-year-old handicraftsman has managed his straw plaiting store for 20 years, where many of his works are on display, such as the Monk Tang and his disciples from the Journey to the West, kangaroos and boars.

"I've liked working with my hands ever since I was a child," said Zheng. "It was kind of related to my father's work."

Zheng’s father managed a brick and tile plant, in which Zheng was very fond of making small figurines out of mud.

Zheng took a fancy to straw plaited art when he caught a glimpse of a straw plaited Donald Duck at a scenic spot during his tour.

From that point on, Zheng was determined to make a straw plaited work of his own.

In order to plait a vivid straw pig, he carefully observed a live pig and recorded all of its measurements, such as the size of its belly and feet.

"A straw pig consists of several thousand plaited straw ropes of different length," noted Zheng.

According to the handicraftsman, it usually takes him at least 15 days to plait an item in straw.

Although Zheng's hands have been covered with calluses due to years of hard work, he doesn't regret a thing.

As his works have become increasingly exquisite, many of them have been showcased at various cultural activities around Jiangshan.

However, Zheng is worried that fewer young people want to learn the handicraft skill, and so he hopes his works will arouse more interest in the fading art.

A child mimics the straw rooster made by Zheng Xudong. [Photo/qz828.com]