On a piece of plain linen, several vibrant roosters, stitched with white thread,look astonishingly real.

Chinese cross stitching, or “Tiaohua”,

is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations.

Embroidery using different stitch styles have their own features.

Cross stitches create double-sided intricate patterns, while complex stitches make vivid 3D patterns.

Elaborately stitched embroidery by girls can not only serve as decoration, but also be sent as a gift to loved ones,

representing romance and longing.

Diverse embroidery patterns mostly draw inspiration from daily life.

For example,

the Huayao ethnic group lives in hot and humid forests where snakes are often seen,

so the snake pattern is common in their embroidery.

Huayao people sew their totemic beliefs and passion for life into their embroidery.

Through exquisite stitching, artisans depict colorful life vividly in the fabrics.

Cross stitching, comprising 30 percent inheritance and 70 percent creativity,

has brought out the unique charm of traditional Chinese embroidery.

责任编辑：【李季】