Tujia Brocade Weaving (Xilankapu)

Xilankapu is the traditional hand-woven brocade of the Tujia people; the name is a Tujia-language word for this kind of patterned woven textile, such as coverlets. The craft has been handed down over generations and, in the Zhangjiajie area, is recognized as provincial-level (provincial/municipal) intangible cultural heritage.

Weavers work by hand on a traditional loom, picking out geometric and totemic patterns in brightly colored yarn. The colors are vivid and the compositions dense, with motifs drawn from nature and tribal symbolism, demanding meticulous skill.

As provincial-level ICH, Xilankapu is a visual expression of Tujia aesthetics, belief and life, its patterns carrying the community's cultural symbols — a treasure of Tujia craft.

At Tujia folk parks, craft displays and cultural venues in Zhangjiajie, visitors can watch the weaving and admire the brilliant patterns of this brocade.