Shuimei Woodcarving Street Introduction
The streets of Sanyi are primarily along Zhongzheng Road, flanked by numerous carving shops. Nearly half of the residents earn a living from the wood carving industry, with the main materials sourced from Daxueshan, Alishan, Fengyuan, Zhushan, and Zhudong, predominantly using camphor wood, along with cypress and sandalwood. What makes Sanyi carving unique is the masters' ability to teach based on the materials, often using large wooden prototypes for their sculptures or creating many lively and natural works that breathe new life. Currently, Sanyi wood carvings are concentrated near Shui Mei, accessible via the Sanyi interchange on the highway, followed by about a kilometer along Provincial Highway 3, where more than 200 craft shops are concentrated. Some of these shops also have production factories located in the back, taking advantage of the proximity to attract many buyers and becoming the main trading place for Sanyi wood carvings. Walking along Shui Mei Street, whether it's the rugged Dharma figures, the solemn Guanyin, or the vividly lifelike small animals, there is so much to behold.
