Nestled in the mountainous terrain east of Qinghai province, China, a land of rainbows plays host to a folk just as vibrant and hospitable – the Tu people (土族), known for their technicolor costumes of finest thread, have a motto: "Along with the guest, comes the blessings!" Whether it be a major holiday, or a neighbour's wedding, you'll find the folks in Huzhu Autonomous County gathered together in the village square, dressed in their most dashing ensembles, singing and dancing the night away! (Pop by our Stories for a quick transport back in time to join in on the celebrations!)
Similar to many other regional traditions within China, these decorated, head-to-toe outfits are often embroidered and handcrafted by local women – and it was not uncommon for brides-to-be to spend a couple of years preparing their wedding garments! These embroidery traditions have been passed on from generation to generation for thousands of years; so too is the story of Faxiu Li (李发秀), a national inheritor of this intangible cultural heritage. From a young age, Faxiu learned the craft from her mother to help contribute to the family livelihood.
Tu embroidery is immediately recognizable for its rainbow patterns and traditional design motifs such as the sunflower, Tai Chi symbol and five-petaled plum – all of which carry auspicious meanings from life-long happiness to family prosperity, reflecting the open-hearted outlook of the Tu people. However, the most unique has to be their “two-thread” stitching method, where two threads of the same colour are used at the same time, one for coiling and the other for sewing. 
Tu embroidery
