Xuguan straw mat is the traditional handicraft in the town of Xushuguan, in Suzhou city, Jiangsu province. Xuguan straw mat is well received by the masses and became best-selling all over the country, due to its bright blue color, soft straws, smooth surface, compact knitting, comfortable and cool feeling and tough and durable features. During the Tongzhi period in Qing Dynasty, Hefengyu Straw Store in Baoying county, Yangzhou city has already sold the Xuguan mat.
It is said that the Emperor Qianlong in Qing Dynasty visited the south of the Yangtze River. He highly praised the Xuguan mat and asked the local officials for the mat, when passing through Xushuguan in Suzhou. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Empress Dowager Cixi repeatedly sent messengers to Suzhou to select Xushuguan mats. Xushuguan even became synonym for mats, and there are couplets describing the mat stores. All in all, lying on the mat made of fresh water plants after the summer bating made people feel and enlightened.
