Embroiderer Tu Yingye works on a piece at the Zhuye Bouyei Clothing Studio. [Photo/WeChat account of Guiyang Fabu]
Pingzhai village in Machang town, Gui'an New Area, Southwest China's Guizhou province, is a typical Bouyei settlement where local embroiderers use needle and thread to capture the spirit and beauty of their homeland.
At the Zhuye Bouyei Clothing Studio, 56-year-old Tu Yingye, an embroiderer with over 40 years of experience, is working on a peony design. Bouyei embroidery, she explains, is a blend of painting, paper-cutting, and needlework. It incorporates both monochrome and colorful stitching, along with freehand and cutwork techniques, all composed of woven fabrics.
Tu's studio is filled with her creations – traditional garments, fans, backpacks, aprons, and embroidered paintings. Her designs feature flowers, birds, insects, and fish, as well as iconic village architecture like gate towers and ancient bridges. Each piece draws inspiration from everyday life, turning Bouyei embroidery into a wearable expression of home.
In nearby Songlin village, a traditional Miao community, cultural experience programs are held to invite children to learn embroidery from Miao artisans.
Whether Bouyei or Miao embroidery, these embroidery traditions reflect a deep love for life and a timeless pursuit of beauty. No longer just museum exhibits, these living pieces of art are part of a vibrant cultural heritage, carried forward one stitch at a time.