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With a tradition dating back over 2000 years, the silk patterns and brocades of Hainan are the original and still some of the finest in the world.

From ancient legends to the Silk Road, China has been known as the producers of the worlds finest silk since time Immemorial. Largely unknown, has been the contribution of Hainan and the traditional Li people to this immortal art form.

Considered to be China's oldest cotton textile art, the Li people of Hainan for centuries have woven the most exquisite silk patterns and designs the world has ever seen. Inspired by the clouds and their silky tangle with the green foliage of the volcanic mountain tops, this ancient art form dates back as long as human civilisation on the Island. Crafted solely by hand, this enduring art form will take you on a journey back through the history of these incredible people.

The designs represent episodes from the daily life of the Li people; they are a highly expressive an important aspect of Li culture. Often bold and always creative, standard pieces take around six months to make, while the more elaborate pieces can take up to 3 years to be produced entirely by hand. The brocades have a famous reputation in China, with the techniques developed by the Li, adopted across the entire country in the Yuan Dynasty of the 13th century.

This incredible and ancient art form, which has remained largely unchanged for over two millennia, is still on display to this day. With displays and demonstrations available in a number of villages, such as the Binglanggu traditional village located around 28 km East of Sanya city. Exploring all the wonder and mystique of this ancient and remarkable art form is both easy and accessible. A number of specialty shops also exist right around the Island, which supply a wide variety of these products, but beware as a number of cheap imitations can be seen all over the Island.