Blue calico from Nantong, Jiangsu province, made a stunning appearance at a Chinese intangible cultural heritage technology exhibition held in Venice, Italy, on Sept 20 local time.

The event, which commemorated the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's passing, traced Polo's footsteps in China. It showcased Chinese intangible cultural heritage through the lens of the places he visited, highlighting the depth and charm of traditional Chinese culture.

Blue calico dyeing and printing techniques date back nearly 1,000 years. In 2006, they were included in the first batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage protection list. In 2014, Nantong blue calico was recognized as a "National Geographical Indication Protection Product". Nantong has also been designated by relevant national authorities as the hometown of blue calico.

Nantong blue calico. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]

Products made of Nantong blue calico are showcased at the exhibition. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]