Maonan bamboo hats showcase ethnic culture

Tan Sujuan (R) and her daughter, Qin Min, display their woven bamboo hats. [Photo by Lu Bo'an/Xinhua]

One of the cultural symbols of the Maonan ethnic group in the city of Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Chinese-style conical bamboo hats are included on the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritages.

The bamboo hats are decorated with patterns woven into their lining intertwined with strips of bamboo with great care. They are considered an ethnic treasure and a token of love among young men and women.

Tan Sujuan, a 50-year-old Maonan woman and representative inheritor of the bamboo hat weaving technique, has specialized in the artistry for over 20 years. She intends to pass on the weaving technical skills to her daughter, handing them down from one generation to another.

Tan Sujuan weaves a bamboo hat. [Photo by Lu Bo'an/Xinhua]