Traditional Yimeng whistles need inheritance, protection

In times gone by, the humble yet charming Yimeng clay whistle was once the most popular of toys among the kids in the Yimeng Mountain area in East China's Shandong province.

The traditional whistle is colorful with its rough and outlandish shapes and simple, yet ingenious form. It's a typical symbol of Yimeng culture. People usually tie the clay whistle to them with five colored threads and children wear it on their chests, which is a way of expressing good wishes.

Human figures and animals usually feature in the Yimeng clay whistles. The most commonly used colors include magenta, pinkish green, brown yellow, sapphire blue and eggplant purple.