Photo shows creative cultural products featuring elements of Li brocade. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Wuzhishan Municipal Committee) Recently, a performance featuring singing and demonstration of Li brocade, the traditional textile of the Li ethnic group, was held in Maona village, Shuiman town, Wuzhishan city, south China's Hainan Province, giving tourists a firsthand look at the complete process of creating Li brocade. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently added the traditional Li textile techniques to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
As a child, Liu Xianglan, a resident of Fanna village in Wuzhishan, was captivated by the vibrant colors and intricate patterns of Li brocade. At 55 years old, she still maintains the enthusiasm of her youth when talking about the traditional craft. Liu Xianglan demonstrates the craft of Li brocade.
(People's Daily Overseas Edition/Zhou Yajun) Li brocade is known as the "living fossil" of the textile industry. People of the Li ethnic group started to use natural fibers such as cotton and flax to make clothes as early as 3,000 years ago. Liu, a skilled Li brocade artisan, explains that the Li ethnic group lacks a written language, making Li brocade a vital carrier of their culture, customs, and beliefs.
Each piece of Li brocade conveys a unique story. In 2006, the traditional Li textile techniques were recogniz.
