Zhao Hongyu, an inheritor of Wuxi fine embroidery, embroiders a piece of cloth at her studio. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]
The fine embroidery of Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, has earned esteem both at home and abroad.
Since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Suzhou embroidery, Hunan embroidery, Guangdong embroidery, and Sichuan embroidery have been reputed as the four renowned embroideries in China.
A close-up of an embroidery work by Zhao Hongyu, an inheritor of Wuxi fine embroidery. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
Wuxi fine embroidery, a type of Suzhou embroidery, is renowned for its small scale, creative design, and exquisite techniques. Zhao Hongyu is the inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage item.
Zhao, based on the experiences and techniques of previous embroiderers, has created double-faced fine embroidery, giving her works gorgeous patterns on both sides.
Silk Road by Zhao Hongyu, an inheritor of Wuxi fine embroidery. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
Zhao's embroidery work Silk Road, which has won awards both in China and abroad, was made using the double-faced fine embroidery technique.
The embroidery work features four horses, five donkeys, 21 camels, and 24 people in different poses walking in a desert, depicting a vibrant scene along the ancient Silk Road in China.
An emboridery work by Zhao Hongyu, an inheritor of Wuxi fine embroidery. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]
Over the past few years, the Wuxi embroiderer has made efforts to preserve the ancient technique. She has set up a studio to cultivate young embroiderers and applied embroidery to other products, including decorative pictures, scarves, and sachets.
