Palm leaf weaving alive and well in Yichang

Wei Guangcui is a palm leaf weaver in Yichang. She learnt the craft from her grandfather as a child, and has been practicing the craft for more than 30 years. Her deft hands can transform ordinary palm leaves into lifelike animals.

Palm leaf weaving, one of China's traditional handcrafts, has a history going back more than a thousand years. Palm leaves are woven into artware. After the fresh palm leaves are picked, they are boiled, dried, and then cut into thin strips. These dried strips are then woven into artistic shapes.

Palm leaf weaving has been recognized as a city-level intangible cultural heritage.

Wei, 48, is a fourth-generation inheritor of this craft. She learned the skill from her grandfather Chen Renhe. As a married woman, she spent her leisure time weaving and began selling her work in the street. To her surprise, they were very popular, and many people encouraged her to keep on creating.

She continued to work hard and tried various innovations to improve her craftsmanship. To win more fans of this ancient craft, Wei often goes to schools and communities to teach and promote the skill. She hopes that she can pass on this cultural heritage to the younger generation.