Yunnan Province in southwestern China is home to about 5 million Yi ethnic people. Among them, around 16% live in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, which lies in central Yunnan, between the provincial capital Kunming to the east and Dali Bai Autonomous Region to the west. With ancestral embroidery skills, Yi people needle nature designs onto their costumes, such as flowers, butterflies, birds, tigers and cats, as well as the sun, moon and stars.

Chuxiong Yi ethnic costumes, a national intangible cultural heritage with a history spanning over 1,700 years, stand as the most prevalent and influential folk art in Chuxiong Prefecture, deeply intertwined with daily life. In recent years, the Yi embroidery industry has burgeoned into a lucrative sector, aiding farmers in augmenting their income and driving rural revitalization.

Solid foundation for Yi embroidery industry

To harness the potential of the Yi embroidery industry for local economic development, Chuxiong Prefecture has left no stones unturned to initiate a concerted effort in recent years. This endeavor involves the establishment of Yi embroidery work teams across various levels, with heads of the publicity departments at the county and city governments acting as team leaders. Even the township and village leaders are mobilized to do the work. This fosters collaborative cooperation among member units, ensuring active participation from social forces. Additionally, a working mechanism featuring paired-up assistance from member units has been instituted to assist Yi embroidery enterprises and support key female embroiderers.