The captivating odyssey of a Zhuang brocade artist

Tiantai county in Zhejiang province is welcoming inheritors of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) from across China, creating a vibrant setting for dialogue on cultural preservation and rural revitalization.

Among the participants is He Dingyu, a Zhuang brocade artisan whose work has travelled far beyond her home village, and whose journey reveals the unifying force of cultural exchange.

She recalls the moment Italian designers first visited her village in 2019. Initially deterred by the high design fees, she instead invited them to delve into the brocade’s living tradition. As they watched local weavers play the tianqin (zithers made from gourds and played like guitars), sing folk songs, and create the intricate diamond-patterned fabric, the visitors were captivated.

"They asked us, 'Can we collaborate?'"she said.

Today, they remain close partners, bringing Chinese motifs, totems and symbols onto the global design stage.

This folk art also helped nurture profound cross-Strait connections. During an event in Fujian, He noticed the resemblance between the patterns of the Zhuang brocade and those of Taroko in Taiwan province. By exploring the origin of Zhuang brocade in Xincheng, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a Taroko artisan Lian Meihui, found her sense of belonging in craftsmanship and said, "I’ve come home."

A younger generation, such as Xiao Yi Jie Jie, is now using digital platforms like TikTok to continue this cross-cultural dialogue, weaving tradition into daily life and bringing China’s folk heritage to audiences around the world.