A group of locals from the Ziweihuayuan community in Qidong – a county-level city administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – on May 19 visited the Qidong Blue Calico Art Museum, also called the Wu Yuanxin Blue Calico Art Gallery.

They wanted to experience the charms of blue calico up close and also to try their hand at making it.

In recent years, Qidong has continued to boost the development of its cultural facilities. As a result, the Qidong Museum, Qidong Blue Calico Art Museum, Qidong Printmaking Institute and the Qidong Art Gallery have been built.

By holding public activities such as open days, the city encourages its residents to visit museums, to learn more about museums and history.

After staff explained the origin, development, features and techniques to make blue calico, the visitors tried their hand at the handicraft.

To make a blue calico product needs not only more than 20 procedures, but also meticulous care.

"It was the first time that I got so close to an intangible cultural heritage item," said one visitor. "As an ordinary citizen, we should also have a sense of responsibility to inherit and promote our culture," the visitor added.

Visitors proudly display the blue calico products they made. [Photo/ntfabu.com]