Rugao customs officers inspect lampshades made by Rugao Caiyi Bamboo Craft Factory. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Rugao Caiyi Bamboo Craft Factory, located in Rugao, Nantong, Jiangsu, recently exported a batch of bamboo lampshades abroad after passing customs inspection.

"In addition to bamboo lampshades, we also export various bamboo products such as handbags, mats, and boxes," said Ding Bangcai, who is in charge of the factory. "These eco-friendly and artistic products are highly favored by foreign consumers. Thanks to the convenient customs clearance measures implemented by the customs authorities, small and micro-enterprises like us can now engage in overseas business," he added.

Ding is also a representative inheritor of bamboo weaving, which is one of China's traditional folk handicrafts and listed as an intangible cultural heritage in Rugao.

Most of the bamboo, wood, and straw handicraft exporters in Rugao are small and micro-enterprises and often lack knowledge about the quarantine requirements in foreign countries. In order to help them tap into the international market, Rugao customs has been guiding enterprises to understand quarantine requirements, regulations, and standards.

Since the beginning of this year, Rugao customs has supervised the export of 422 batches of bamboo, wood, and straw products, with a total value exceeding 60 million yuan ($8.34 million).