Better life looms large in Shanxi villages

literally translated as "mother's handmade cloth", is a type of rough fabric made with a millennia-old weaving craft unique to Hongtong county of Linfen city in North China's Shanxi province.

But the craft has almost faded into oblivion, as people turn to readily available mass-produced fabrics and garments.

That is until June, when it gained a new lease on life.

The local government of Quting township in Hongtong built munian workshops in seven villages, offering job opportunities to 40 local women.

Most female villagers in middle and old age are left behind to care for their families and tend farms while most men work in the cities, said Fan Ding, the head of the township.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has kept male villagers from returning to their jobs for months, resulting in a decrease in their household income. "So we decided to revive the traditional munian craft to expand their incomes," Fan explained.