Innovative Su embroidery amazes TV viewers

Part of the Su embroidery work Out of Chang'an for the Western Regions. [Photo/WeChat account: snd-szgxqfb]

Su embroidery from Suzhou New district, Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, recently amazed viewers of national TV broadcaster CCTV with its innovative rendering.

More than 58 embroiderers took over 1,000 days to finish the Su embroidery work Out of Chang'an for the Western Regions. The work's Magnolia petals can burst into bloom and butterflies can fly with a light touch thanks to the use of shape-memory alloy.

Su embroidery works. [Photo/WeChat account: snd-szgxqfb]

The embroidery work depicts Zhang Qian of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD) traveling to the western regions and features herds of sheep, eagles, palaces and mountains.

Su embroidery, a national intangible cultural heritage item with a history of more than 3,000 years, originated in Zhenhu town, SND. In 2021, Zhenhu town's Su embroidery was selected as a geographical indication product of both China and Europe.

Zhenhu town is the "hometown of Chinese embroidery art" and a demonstration base of the national cultural industry. The town is currently home to nearly 100 senior art professionals and more that 8,400 employees in the embroidery and related industries.