Flower power

Traditional Xunpu attire has carefully tailored wide-sleeved gowns and loose trousers, making it easier to work on the seashore. The tops are primarily green or light blue and the loose trousers, mostly black or blue, Huang says.

Hard work drove Xunpu women to pin their hopes for easier and better lives on their colorful flower headdresses. They first tie their hair in a bun with a red ribbon, and adorn it with a hairpin. They then decorate the bun with strings of fresh flowers, creating a colorful and vibrant floral cluster. The flowers vary with the season, from peony and lily, to camellia, magnolia and chrysanthemum.

Huang felt compelled to try to preserve the tradition in the early 2000s when she sensed a decline in the observance of it among the young. Originally a kindergarten teacher, she taught her pupils about folk customs. In her spare time, she began to introduce the practice to visitors, and acted as a bridge between them and the village elders.

The national status accorded to Xunpu women's customs inspired her to commit to the headdress.

"I was 19 and I just followed my instincts," she says, adding that she wasn't sure how far she'd be able to go, as there were few visitors to the village, and young people were abandoning the tradition.

In addition to honing her headdress-making skills, Huang has taken part in exhibitions to promote the local culture.