The Wang Xing Ji fan factory was established in 1875 in Hangzhou, capital city of southeast China's Zhejiang Province.

A restoration project to build three handicrafts museums in Hangzhou, capital city of southeast China's Zhejiang Province will create world class facilities and exhibitions.

The knife, scissor and sword museum, the umbrella museum and the fan museum will enrich Hangzhou's cultural atmosphere, said the city's Party chief.

Hangzhou was chosen as the location for the museums because the city is famous for its traditional handicraft industry, according to Shao Fubiao, an engineer for the Hangzhou canal protection committee.

Luzhou Fenshui oilpaper umbrellas are famous for the special material they are made from. The factory that makes them is 400 years old and is located in Sichuan Province.

The famous Hangzhou brands of Zhang Xiao Quan scissors, Wang Xing Ji fans and West Lake silk umbrellas have been listed as part of China's intangible human heritage.

"Quite apart from their beauty, handicraft productions are in a sense the accumulated capital of civilization, and embody the wisdom and emotions of many generations," said Shao.

The restoration project is also being supported by the China National Light Industry Council. The funding and national support to the museums will ensure that they will create world class facilities and exhibitions.

Work on assembling the collections for the three museums has already begun. Museum staff are busy gathering exhibits, historical documents and photographs from Jiangsu, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangdong and Hangzhou.

The three museums will be created by refurbishing two abandoned factories and are expected to open at the end of 2009.

(China.org.cn by Wu Huanshu, October 31, 2008)