(CNTV)

Horsetail embroidery is a traditional handicraft that has been passed down for generations by the Shui minority in Guizhou Province. This unique kind of embroidery uses horsetail hair rather than common thread for the needlework. Now the Shui women are rolling up their sleeves to ensure this thousand-year-old handicraft lives on.

This is the godfather of all embroidery. There is nothing conventional about this handiwork: these patterns are created using horsetail hair.

The art has recently been listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture. The local government in Sandu county is subsequently speeding up its protection and have set up several workshops in villages where people can learn this ancient craft from the embroidery masters.