Across China: Young Chinese revive, transform ancient crafts for modern markets

A woman experiences the tie-dye technique of Bai ethnic group in a dyehouse in Zhoucheng Village of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

KUNMING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- In a sun-drenched courtyard in a village in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Bai ethnic woman Yang Julan hung up newly dyed tie-dye scarves, one by one. Soon, the sun would dry them, allowing these scarves to embark on a journey to Europe, destined for the Netherlands.

A farmer near Erhai Lake in the city of Dali, Yang would possibly struggle to pinpoint Amsterdam on a world map, but her creations do find their way to the Dutch capital and even beyond -- adorning customers in distant lands she has never seen.

"At my age, to see our dyeing cloth reach the world map... It's a profound pride," said Yang, 65.

The tie-dye technique, dating back nearly 2,000 years to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in China in 2006.

Like tie-dye, ICH in general is experiencing a remarkable revival in China -- resulting in the transformation of ancient crafts into modern global commodities, driven by a new generation who are breathing contemporary life into time-honored traditions.

Just a few years ago, many traditions faced extinction as practitioners dwindled. Yang herself had abandoned her craft, believing "the ancestors' handiwork had become useless."

The turning point came when urban entrepreneurs recognized the commercial potential of ICH.

While working in Beijing, Dali native Zhang Hanmin, then 28, noticed urban youth embracing traditional elements like embroidery and prints in their clothes and accessories. Convinced that her hometown's tie-dye held similar appeal, she returned to Dali to revitalize the craft.

Having established a brand named Dali Blue in 2012, Zhang focused on innovating product designs while also launching hands-on workshops for visitors -- resulting in an influx of both orders and tourists.

Such market success created more jobs, attracting experienced local artisans like Yang back to the craft. "With improvements made by the young people, tie-dye has been reborn," Yang noted.

This craft's revival is part of the country's larger wave of cultural entrepreneurship -- seeing young Chinese tapping into ICH to build successful commercial ventures.

Chinese cultural authorities have established a comprehensive system to preserve and revitalize ICH items, guiding artisans to enhance quality, build brands and sharpen their market focus.

At the 2025 ICH brand promotion week held from Sunday to Friday in Dali, which was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, over 120 heritage brands demonstrated how traditional craftsmanship can be integrated with contemporary design.

Numerous people in their 40s, 30s and even 20s have joined ICH preservation and inheritance efforts, creating many distinctive heritage brands, the ministry revealed.

At the event's opening ceremony, Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, announced that its e-commerce platform had sold 6.5 billion orders of ICH-related products in the past year. Meanwhile, another platform, Kuaishou, reported over 178 billion views for ICH-related videos.

During the "Double 11" shopping festival earlier this month, ICH-related product sales via Alibaba's Taobao platform had reached 9.42 billion yuan (1.33 billion U.S. dollars).

Brian Linden, an American from Chicago who has lived in Dali for over a decade, said growing cultural confidence is reshaping Chinese consumption patterns, making heritage products part of daily life.

"Meanwhile, these heritage goods, infused with Chinese aesthetics, are crossing borders and stirring a strong 'China chic' trend in the international market," Linden added. ■

A staff member displays a Lord Rabbit, known as Tu'er Ye in Chinese (a traditional handicraft and a festive clay toy for children, especially in Beijing), during the 2025 intangible cultural heritage (ICH) brand promotion week in Dali City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Brian Linden (L), an American from Chicago who has lived in Dali for over a decade, checks his tie-dye product at Dali Blue workshop in Xizhou old town of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A woman dyes patterns on fabrics in a dyehouse in Zhoucheng Village of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Yang Huanpei, a provincial-level inheritor for Jianchuan Wood Carving, demonstrates skills during the 2025 intangible cultural heritage (ICH) brand promotion week in Dali City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)