Perfume satchels made by blue calico are on display at the first China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Cao Yuxing Dyehouse from Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province is attending the first China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo, which is being held in Wuhan, Hubei province from Nov 26 to 28.

Cao Yuxing are not only displaying their classic blue calico, but also more than 50 derivative products, including scroll paintings, fans, scarves, bags, and perfume satchels.

Founded during the reign of Emperor Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Cao Yuxing has been using bluegrass to dye natural fabric and has been adopting many procedures to make the blue calico.

Newly-dyed blue calico is air dried at Cao Yuxing Dyehouse. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

In 2006, the dyeing technique of blue calico in Nantong was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage items.

In recent years, Jiang Rong, the fifth inheritor of the Cao Yuxing Dyehouse, has created hundreds of new patterns for blue calico and used muslin and silk as the fabric to make blue calico.

Jiang has also cooperated with well-known Chinese garment brands to integrate blue calico with clothes and to make creative products featuring blue calico, which have been well received by tourists from home and abroad.