Reed all about it: the humble plant given a new burst of life

In Xiong'an New Area, Hebei province, a farmer is redefining a symbol of his homeland, the humble reed of Baiyangdian Lake.

- By ZHANG YU

Li Jianguang, 49, has transformed the reed, once used for simple woven mats or other mundane items, into the core of high-strength, fire-resistant building panels now exported globally. His innovation epitomises the green ethos central to the area's growth.

"I could never have imagined the reeds I grew up with would one day build walls applied at both home and abroad," said Li, a resident of a lakeside village in Xiong'an and chairman of the Renqiu Zhaolong Reed Speciality Cooperative.

His work, the Wei Zhu Xin Sheng (reed architecture rebirth) ecological building system, was recognised during Hebei International Industrial Design Week recently, receiving an award in the Goldreed Industrial Design Award competition, an initiative that underscores the new area's focus on sustainable innovation.

Li's connection to reeds has deep roots. "My grandparents and parents used to weave reeds to make simple products such as mats for supporting the family," he said.

After earlier business ventures failed in 2008, he returned to the material he knew best, determined to revive its value.