Unique handicrafts with flavor of rural life

Between the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower lies a small handicrafts shop. It carries so many handicrafts, finding something appealing to you is never difficult.

In the shop, a clay sculpture in the shape of a tiger’s head quickly caught my eyes. It looked colorful, vivid and exaggerated. According to one of the shopkeepers, it is exclusively made in Shaanxi Province. The locals often hang it on the back door in order to bring happiness and keep the house from evil spirits.

The clay sculptures also had smaller versions that could be brought home easily. A white horse sculpture was so small that you could hold it in your hand. It was painted with a golden saddle and red peonies, which symbolize wealth.

I was very interested in the children's clothes called Bai Jia Yi, which means clothes made of pieces of clothes from one hundred families. In the past, rural people were very poor, but they believed that their life would change, if their children could eat food and wear clothes from one hundred families. The clothes in the shop were pieced together by bits of cloth of different colors, representing one hundred families. On a closer look, I found that they were totally new and clean.

The shopkeepers can speak a little English. They are very friendly and often invite customers to enjoy Chinese tea.

What I appreciated

Folk handicrafts with strong Chinese characteristics

What customers appreciate

Folk handicrafts with strong Chinese characteristics