Embroidery flower art blossoms in Shandong

Editor's Note:

The Yellow River runs through nine cities in East China's Shandong province and flows into the sea, bringing vitality and prosperity to the land. Along its banks, numerous intangible cultural heritage projects have been created and inherited, reflecting the colorful scenery, brilliant culture and rich diversity of Shandong. Shandong is a province with a long history and a splendid civilization. It boasts 186 national-level intangible cultural heritage projects, ranking it second in the country. Moreover, eight projects have been inscribed onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, according to the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism. Join me on a journey in Meeting the Sea Along the Yellow River in Shandong, to discover the treasures of intangible cultural heritage there and appreciate the charms of this ancient and modern land.

A hand-embroidery flower ornament. [Photo by Li Xiujuan for chinadaily.com.cn]

Juancheng handmade flower art is a traditional craft in Shandong province that uses hand embroidery to create intricate and colorful flower patterns.

Li Xiuqin is a third-generation inheritor of the skill and has been practicing it for more than 30 years.

With the support of the culture and tourism bureau of Juancheng county in Weifang, Shandong province, Li established a company to infuse the intangible cultural heritage of flower art with clothing, accessories, home furnishings, handbags and other items.

Li has also set up a flower art technique research room, where she has trained more than 300 flower art enthusiasts. At present, there are 45 workers engaged in flower art, among whom 12 are from poor families. Thanks to the production of flower art works, their monthly income is now more than 3,000 yuan ($410.81).

Song Chunling, 60, is one of the workers who has benefited from flower art. "Previously, making flowers was for our own use. Who would have thought that this outdated craft could make us money now," she said.

According to officials from the Juancheng county culture and tourism bureau, they will further support the handicraft and attract more young people to participate in the inheritance and protection of intangible cultural heritage. (Edited by Fan Yuanyuan)