Timor-Leste, located at the eastern half of the island of Timor, is the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on May 20, 2002, and the youngest country in Southeast Asia.

Traditional cloth known as Tais has been worn in Timor-Leste for generations, which is an essential part of its national cultural heritage. 

Tais are usually made for ceremonial use, along with feathers, coral, gold and silver. It has the symbolic meaning of respect towards guests, friends, relatives and ancestors.

The ancient technique of Tais weaving gained more attention worldwide since the country achieved independence from Indonesia.

Tais cloth used to be made of hand-spun cotton and dyed with local plants. But with the improvement of synthetic dyes and polyester fibers, coloring Tais cloth is becoming much easier.

With the hardly-touched ocean to dive in, beautiful land to hike on and ancient traditions to explore, Asia's newest country with amazing adventures await more tourists worldwide!

What are the cultural elements that best represent Asia? Follow the "Know Asia Better" series. It will offer you a glimpse of 47 Asian countries, through architecture, art or cultural figures to show a diversified Asia that you may have never noticed before.

(Head image is from VCG and redesigned by Fan Chenxiao.)