Yongzhou Shuizhu (Water Bamboo) Mat

Last updated 2026-11-08 — The main material used is water bamboo, though some are also woven from small nanmu bamboo. Shuizhu mats are meticulously crafted and are reputed to be “as thin as paper, as clear as jade, as flat as water, and as soft as silk.” They can be folded, are easy to carry, and simple to store. Not only are they exquisite bedding, but they can also be made into various handicrafts. Shuizhu mats have a long history—exquisitely patterned, finely woven, and uniquely styled bamboo mats have been unearthed in Changsha from Warring States period Chu tombs and Han dynasty tombs, among other cultural relics, making them a traditional export product of China.