How are Nantong-style bonsai trees sparkling again?

Nantong-style bonsai trees. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Nantong-style bonsai making technique is one of the eight schools in China and made the municipal list of intangible cultural heritage items in 2014.

How has Nantong-style bonsai begun sparkling again over the past decade?

Some niche part of Nantong-style bonsai trees have been explored, such as Quyuan bonsai trees created by late Chinese landscape painter You Wuqu.

Not limited by the traditional S-shaped Rugao bonsai with two and half curves, You blended its painting techniques into bonsai creation and valued bonsai trees in their natural form. You's bonsai works look like a painting from any angle.

Innovations have also been made in flowerpots and binding materials and techniques. Traditional palm fiber threads have been replaced by metal wires, while the bonsai with two and half curves has been changed into a bonsai with a big curve covering a small curve, which preserves the classic features of Nantong-style bonsai yet looks more three-dimensional.

In terms of growing seedlings, Nantong has progressed from the previous small-scaled cutting propagation in pots to cutting propagation in fields, seeing huge increases in the number of seedlings.

In addition, to familiarize the public with Nantong-style bonsai, Nantong Bonsai Park usually organizes bonsai exhibitions on festivals and holidays and invites parents and children to appreciate bonsai trees and try their hands at making their own.