Ancient art gets a modern makeover

Song Brocade is a rapidly disappearing art form that is enjoying a new lease of life thanks to an innovative businessman, Wang Shanshan and Zhou Furong report Wang Shanshan/Zhou Furong

Willowy showgirls wearing brocade cheongsam dresses stole the spotlight when they appeared at the many ceremonies during the 53rd World Table Tennis Championships, which ended on May 3 in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

Suzhou girls are famous for being "delicate", while the brocade, one of the "three celebrated brocades" in China, is called Song Brocade because it originated in the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279) in Suzhou.