Traditional way of making Atlas silk revives in Xinjiang

People work at an Atlas silk workshop in a village in Jiya township, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, April 5, 2016. As a traditional type of Xinjiang silk extremely popular among Uygur women, Atlas means "graceful" in the Uyghur language. It is made through a complicated process and known for its softness, lightness and bright-colored patterns. Jiya, a major production center for Atlas silk, still uses the old production techniques and wooden machines. About two-thirds of Jiya's residents work in the craft. China's capital city of Beijing has donated textile machines to the township to support the sector's development and help alleviate poverty. [Photo/China News Service]