A group photo is taken in front of the Nantong Blue Calico Museum. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

Brooke Spelman, consul of the Consulate General of the United States in Shanghai, visited the Nantong Blue Calico Museum and the Nantong University Blue Calico Art Institute in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on Aug 18.

The visit was intended to deepen understanding of Nantong's renowned intangible cultural heritage, specifically its blue calico craftsmanship, and to facilitate discussions on cultural exchange.

Guan Huifang, a 98-year-old heritage inheritor, demonstrated spinning and weaving techniques on site, while Chinese arts and crafts master Wu Yuanxin explained the history, production methods, and pattern features of blue calico.

Brooke Spelman, consul of the Consulate General of the United States in Shanghai, tries weaving cloth at the Nantong Blue Calico Museum. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

During the visit, Spelman delved into the traditional methods of producing blue calico, engaging with techniques such as spinning, weaving, block printing, and paste scraping, and appreciated the allure of this national intangible cultural heritage.

In the following discussion, Wu described how his team from Nantong University has organized blue calico exhibitions and performances in places like Arizona, Los Angeles, and Washington in the US, achieving notable success in international cultural exchanges.

Spelman shared her personal bond with blue calico, pulling a blue calico folding fan from her bag. This fan, made by Yuanxin Blue, is a treasured daily possession. She praised its traditional craftsmanship and saw this visit as a chance to promote Sino-US cultural exchange.

She further highlighted her dedication to promoting cultural exchanges between American and Nantong youth, allowing both communities to develop a richer understanding of each other's cultures and traditions.