Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2019 shows a velvet flower handicraft made by Zhao Shuxian in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Delicate velvet flower handicrafts made of silk, an intangible cultural heritage of east China's Jiangsu.
NANJING, Sept. 16, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Shuxian, 65, a representative inheritor of the "velvet flower making techniques", an intangible cultural heritage of Jiangsu Province, has been working on these handicrafts for more than 40 years.
The process of making a velvet flower can be quite complicated. For the preparation, handicraftsmen need to design the pattern first, and then dye the silk before combining it with copper wire to make the velvet sticks.
Sticking to traditional craftsmanship, Zhao has incorporated fashion elements into his works, which gain great popularity in the market.
Zhao hopes more young people can work as velvet flower handicraft makers to inherit the intangible cultural heritage.
Zhao Shuxian trims a velvet flower handicraft at the workshop of Nanjing Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Zhao Shuxian (2nd L) instructs his apprentices Ling Jiawei (1st L), Fu Lei (2nd R) and Yan Xin to make velvet flower handicrafts at the workshop of Nanjing Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Zhao Shuxian makes a velvet flower accessory at the workshop of Nanjing Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 14, 2019.(Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Zhao Shuxian works on a velvet flower handicraft at the workshop of Nanjing Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Zhao Shuxian trims a velvet flower handicraft at the workshop of Nanjing Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
