A craftsman weaves a Rugao silk carpet in Rugao, Nantong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The technique for making Rugao silk carpets in Rugao, Nantong was included in the list of the new batch of national intangible cultural heritage items that was recently released by the State Council.

Making Rugao silk carpets originated from weaving techniques dating back more than 2,000 years and developed its own regional style in the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing dynasties.

It uses high-quality wild silk and features colorful pictures made through 11 steps, including color matching, dyeing, as well as weaving by knotting.

The carpets have been on display at several foreign museums and sent as national gifts to foreign leaders. They can also be seen at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse and the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.