Cultural Preservation: Handicraft business promotes village homecoming tide amid urbanization

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China's ongoing urbanization process has brought opportunities for many young migrant workers. But it has also meant losses for the nation's rural areas. To resolve the issue, some entrepreneurs have found chances to make money in the villages. CGTN's Zhao Yunfei features one businesswoman who is doing so.

The villagers' valley could be the visitors' resort. The key to successful tourism is its culture, like these handicrafts, ideal gifts and souvenirs. It takes a long time to make one. For many embroidery artists in China's southwestern province of Guizhou, the skill is embedded in their genes.

WU RUQUN EMBROIDERY ARTIST "We started embroidering things when we were young. It's part of our Miao ethnic culture. We learned the skills from our elders."

The needlework used to be auntie and grandmas' job, as many young adults have left the villages and joined the tides of urbanization.

But the increasing demand for embroidery and batiks have brought some people back home.

ZHAO YUNFEI DANZHAI COUNTY, GUIZHOU PROVINCE "The workers here in Laodong village come from five different villages nearby. Most of them used to work in bigger cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The workshops here have provided an option for locals to work near home and have the ability to take care of their families."

31-year-old Pan Qin was a migrant worker. She decided to return to her village and learn the art skills from scratch.

PAN QIN EMBROIDERY ARTIST "I came back because I have to take care of my children and parents. This job also helps me learn something that is a signature of my own culture."

The person who keeping the business alive and calling for more young people to come home is Yu Ying, an entrepreneur passionate about cultural heritage of ethnic minorities.

YU YING FOUNDER, GEN-SILK "Some young people are not even interested in their own cultures due to the influence of the Han culture. This business can help them realize the value of their own history."

Yu Ying says young people ought to receive respect, and the best way to ensure that is by getting sufficient payment.

"Many people hoped that they would branch out and see the world. But once they come back, they found out the place where they got the most respect is home."

Located in a commercialized area, the stores have the downstream of the handicraft industry, this one is not far from the workshops. The designs combine traditional styles with fashion tastes. Yu Ying says the merging culture doesn't mean they have lost their roots, but it shows they have become more tolerant.

Zhao Yunfei, CGTN, Danzhai County, Guizhou Province.