The West Lake silk umbrella is a traditional handicraft unique to Hangzhou, which is both practical and ornamental. The West Lake silk umbrella is made of bamboo as the frame and silk as the surface. It is light and pleasing to the eye, beautiful in style, and easy to carry. It is known as the "Flower of West Lake". The West Lake silk umbrella was created in 1932. At that time, the artists of Hangzhou Dujinsheng Silk Weaving Factory were inspired by Japanese silk umbrellas and used the unique silk of Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Huzhou and the light bamboo produced in Fuyang to make it. The West Lake scenery pattern was decorated on the umbrella surface through the brushing process, which was successful, so it was called the West Lake silk umbrella. At that time, the umbrella making craftsmanship of the famous artist Zhu Zhenfei was the most outstanding. The West Lake silk umbrella is made of exquisite materials, and the silk umbrella processing procedures are as many as 18. These processes have high technical requirements. The decoration adopts traditional Chinese painting techniques, embroidery techniques and other techniques, making it exquisite and vivid. The West Lake silk umbrella is produced by pure handwork. Now there are artists in Hangzhou West Lake Umbrella Factory and individual workshops who inherit the production of this traditional handicraft. There are 18 processes to make the West Lake silk umbrella. The first one is to select bamboo. The bamboo used to make silk umbrellas is generally selected from Anji and Deqing, Zhejiang. However, it is not moso bamboo, but light bamboo. Not every light bamboo can be used. Generally, bamboo with a growth period of more than 3 years is selected. The diameter should be 5-6 cm and there should be no dark side. After selecting the bamboo, it is taken to the processing point to split the ribs and make the umbrella frame, which is the second process of rib processing. The production of the ribs of the West Lake silk umbrella is very particular. They are all split by hand. The ribs of an umbrella should be even and the thickness should be the same. If the thickness is different, the effect of the umbrella when folded will not be good and round. The production of silk umbrellas includes turning wood, umbrella surface decoration, ribs skimming, racking, stringing, trimming, folding umbrellas, pasting green, scraping glue, installing poles, wrapping heads and installing handles, threading flower lines, nailing buckles, repairing umbrellas, inspection, packaging, and the previous bamboo selection and rib processing, a total of 18 processes. The West Lake Silk Umbrella has won many awards, including the first prize of China Arts and Crafts Hundred Flowers Award in 1990, the gold medal of the World Chinese Patent Technology Expo in 2001, and the gold medal of Hangzhou Excellent Tourism Products in 2003. In 2008, the West Lake Silk Umbrella was listed as the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage projects; in the same year, the Hangzhou Municipal Government approved the establishment of the China National Umbrella Museum, in order to inherit and promote the West Lake Silk Umbrella art with Jiangnan charm.