The Nantong Yuanshin Textile and Dyeing Museum and the National Blue Calico Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance (ICH) Base were inaugurated at the Fuke Technology Park in Chongchuan district, Nantong, on Dec 17. 

The initiative aims to strengthen community-based cultural education, enhance the public understanding of ICH, and bring the charm of ICH closer to local residents by opening museums within neighborhoods. 

As the sixth branch museum established by Wu Yuanxin, a nationally recognized inheritor of blue calico dyeing techniques, the Nantong Yuanshin Textile and Dyeing Museum showcases a variety of traditional crafts. These include blue calico, multicolor calico, tie-dye, stencil printing, batik, embroidery, and handwoven dyed fabrics. Through exhibits, workshops, and hands-on teaching, the museum comprehensively showcases five nationally recognized ICH dyeing techniques and explains their cultural significance. 

Wu, who also serves as the director of the Nantong Blue Calico Museum and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Research Institute of Nantong University, emphasized the importance of embedding museums within communities. "This museum provides residents with a platform to appreciate, learn about, and engage with ICH. We plan to hold regular craft workshops and exhibitions to enrich their experience," Wu said. 

Nantong currently boasts one UNESCO-recognized ICH item, 12 national ICH items, 93 provincial items, and 148 city-level ICH items. This recent inauguration marks the first step in Chongchuan's initiative to bring museums into communities, with a focus on local cultural heritage. The district plans to make public cultural resources more accessible, encouraging residents to become active participants in preserving and passing down these timeless traditions.

Visitors learn how to make blue calico at the museum. [Photo/Nantong Daily]