Village keeps cultural heritage flourishing

On the banks of a slow-moving river in Shengfeng village, the rhythmic knock of wood against wood has been echoing in the hall of Zhang Laisheng's workshop as the sun emerges on the horizon.

Though small in size, his workshop hosts boat molds of various shapes and sizes that either lean against the wall or rest on the shelves for close appreciation.

With chisels and hand drills, the man in his 70s demonstrates the ancient craft of local traditional wood boat building before a group of curious visitors to the waterside village in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, in late April.

"The hardened wooden planks must be polished to a smooth sheen, with every joint precision-cut for perfect alignment," explains Zhang, who has spent six decades coaxing river-worthy vessels from stubborn camphor, fir and pine.

His boatbuilding journey began when he was just 16, apprenticing under his father at the village boatyard.

"Practically everyone had to rely on the boats to navigate their way to Shanghai, and Suzhou and Kunshan in Jiangsu province in the old days," he recalls.

"First thing I learned was how to lay the keel," he notes, brushing sawdust off his sleeve.

"You get the keel wrong, the whole boat is off. You don't just build a shape — you build a life raft."

Used by fishermen, farmers and ferrymen, the boats have gradually been put out of service, as concrete bridges span where ferries once glided and modern transportation takes over.

Yet, Zhang is not ready to let go of the trade that has accentuated his whole career and was named a city-level intangible cultural heritage in Jiaxing in 2009.

Between the conversations with his guests, his calloused hands and sharp eyes execute measured movements.

The master shipwright begins by selecting carefully curved wooden planks that match the vessel's intended dimensions.

These are meticulously shaped and fastened to the central keel plank, establishing the boat's fundamental structure. The bow and stern are then installed, completing the hull's framework.

A critical step follows with the installation of the lazi — gracefully curved sideboards that serve multiple functions, he emphasizes.

"These elegant elements provide essential stability during navigation while simultaneously acting as catwalks for boatmen poling from stem to stern," Zhang explains.

Additionally, beyond their practical purpose, the lazi sideboards add distinctive decorative flair to the vessel. The deck is then laid to complete the main structure.

The craftsman then painstakingly seals all seams using a traditional mixture of paint and plant fiber paste, ensuring complete watertight integrity.

For the cabin and superstructure, fragrant fir wood remains the standard choice, though prized vessels may feature more luxurious materials like cypress, yellow oak, or even rosewood.

"Fir wood is mainly used for its flexibility, moisture resistance, rot-proof quality, lightweight nature and excellent buoyancy," Zhang says.

A protective coating process follows, with tung oil applied to the hull (particularly below the waterline) to prevent rot, while painted finishes adorn the upper structures.

While wooden boats have largely disappeared from practical use, their cultural significance endures. The tourism industry's growing demand for authentic pleasure craft has created new relevance for these waterborne treasures.