Pic story of Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery in Longhui County, China's Hunan

A woman from Huayao branch of Yao ethnic group makes Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.

The origin of Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery dates back to the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. - 220 A.D.) and reached maturity during the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) dynasties. The embroideries feature a unique "Qingsha" stitching skill, and are improvised with silk threads on blue homespun cloth without pre-drawn designs. Even an ordinary embroidered tube skirt may contain hundreds of thousands of stitches, requiring several months or even years to complete. In 2006, Longhui Huayao Tiaohua embroidery making skill was listed in the first batch of the national intangible cultural heritages.

Since the Huayao people have no written language, Tiaohua embroidery has played an important role in preserving their cultural and historical heritage, earning it the title "a wordless history book worn on the body." "Every pattern has a spiritual meaning behind," said Shen Yanxi, a provincial-level inheritor of Tiaohua.

Over the centuries, Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery has changed in style, with patterns and colors being renewed to better suit contemporary aesthetics. In recent years, Longhui County has promoted the preservation and innovation of Tiaohua by leveraging cultural tourism, digital preservation, and projects introducing intangible cultural heritage into campuses, bringing this traditional skill, once secluded in remote areas, to a wider audience around the world. (Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

Women from Huayao branch of Yao ethnic group display Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery skills in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

Shen Yanxi, a provincial-level inheritor of Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery, makes Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

Tourists try costumes of Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

Women from Huayao branch of Yao ethnic group display traditional tube skirts made with Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, Aug. 6, 2022. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Photo by Zeng Yong/Xinhua)

This photo taken in February 2022 shows a snow scenery of Huxingshan Yao township in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Photo by Zeng Yong/Xinhua)

Women wearing costumes of Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery visit a waterfall in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 24, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

Women from Huayao branch of Yao ethnic group make Tiaohua cross-stitch embroideries in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 24, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

A woman from Huayao branch of Yao ethnic group wearing a traditional tube skirt makes cured pork in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province in January 2024. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Photo by Zeng Yong/Xinhua)

Women from Huayao branch of Yao ethnic group communicate at a training class of Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

Feng Tangmei, a provincial-level inheritor of Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery, displays embroidery skills via live-streaming in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

This photo taken on Oct. 26, 2020 shows a wedding ceremony of people from Huayao branch of Yao ethnic group in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Photo by Zeng Yong/Xinhua)

Students learn Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery skill at a school in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 24, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

A tourist tries a costume made with Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

Shen Yanxi, a provincial-level inheritor of Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery, displays traditional costumes of Huayao branch of Yao ethnic group in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

Shen Yanxi, a provincial-level inheritor of Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery, introduces the craft at a training class in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

Women from Huayao branch of Yao ethnic group perform traditional dance in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, Aug 24, 2023. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Photo by Zeng Yong/Xinhua)

Shen Yanxi, a provincial-level inheritor of Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery, introduces the craft to women at a training class in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 24, 2026 shows a view of a theater at Huxingshan Yao township in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

Women from Huayao branch of Yao ethnic group display traditional tube skirts made with Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province, June 23, 2026. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)

This photo taken on June 23, 2026 shows a Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery work pictured in Longhui County of Shaoyang, central China's Hunan Province. Tiaohua cross-stitch embroidery is a traditional handicraft passed down through generations by women of Huayao, a branch of Yao ethnic group, in Longhui County.(Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)