Guangxi folk art master Huang Shuofu

In 2013, Ban Ki-moon (L), former secretary-general of the United Nations, collected a fan with delicate Miao embroidery during his visit to China. [Photo/Guilin Daily]

Huang Shuofu is a representative inheritor of the Guilin round bamboo silk circular fan-making technique. Born in 1950, he hails from Bobai county, Guangxi.

Influenced by his grandfathers, Huang developed a strong interest in circular fans from an early age. He continuously explored new production techniques and developed over 200 types of circular fans, obtaining more than 30 invention patents.

Workers make circular fans. [Photo/Guilin Daily]

Huang spent decades pursuing excellence, creating a sales volume of millions of circular fans. His circular fans sell well domestically and are exported overseas, even earning the badge of outstanding handicrafts from UNESCO.

His circular fans are not just commodities but also culture carriers, inheriting Chinese culture. He led a team to bring circular fan culture into schools and supported rural vitalization by helping local people out of poverty through processing assistance. His circular fan products are collected by the Beijing Palace Museum and were selected for exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up.

His daughter has also joined his business, dedicating herself to the inheritance and development of circular fan culture. Through circular fan-making courses, they pass on circular fan culture to more students.