Two students hold the 2020 admission letters at the undergraduate admission office of Zhejiang A&F University. [Photo/IC]

Zhejiang A&F University, based in the city of Hangzhou, released its latest admission letter for first-year undergraduates on July 27.

The admission letter is made from moso bamboo using the university's self-developed deep-processing technology for bamboo that once won second prize at the State Technological Invention Awards.

Bamboo is an important plant in traditional Chinese culture, representing characters of moral integrity and loyalty. Bamboo paintings, usually in ink, were an important motif for Chinese literati in ancient times.

Compared with traditional paper letters, the bamboo-made admission letters are much more natural: they not only have the color and texture of natural bamboo, but also feel smooth and have a faint scent due to the adoption of fourth-generation treating technology for bamboo surfaces. In addition, the letters are printed with eco-friendly water-based ink that allows for high-definition ink printing. All techniques involved have already been patented.

Zhejiang A&F University has been using bamboo-made admission letters since 2015. Due to technological advancements, the 2020 letters are thinner, lighter, softer, and more firm than previous ones.

Founded in 1958, Zhejiang A&F University is jointly administered by the Zhejiang provincial government and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. Its strongest disciplines are agriculture and forestry.