Travelogue: Silk Looms – China's Ancient 3D Printers
By Eva May, Hou Li
01:45

Known as the "Home of Silk," Suzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province has a history of silk-making that dates back over 4,700 years. Here, silk isn't just a luxury fabric; it's a way of life. The fine, delicately-patterned silk fabrics that were once the exclusive preserve of emperors are being reinvented for a mass market in the modern era. But does today's multi-billion-dollar industry owe its existence to the Chinese imperial family? No! It's thanks to the humble silkworm, which is at the heart of a lengthy process that depends on two key factors; preventing the moth from hatching from the cocoon, and perfecting the silkworms' diet. Only then, as you will see in the video, can the "ancient 3D printer" produce perfect silk thread. 

The ancient 3D printers. /CGTN

The ancient 3D printers. /CGTN

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1031km