The Dong ethnic group lives in Guizhou province and is known for its traditional culture dating back to thousands of years., with the handmade Dong blouse believed to be the epitome of traditional art. At the beginning of autumn, Dong women start making the special cloth needed to make Dong blouses. Starting by picking cotton, spinning it into yarn, weaving, dyeing and hammering the cloth, they take about 11 months to complete the process, including sewing and embroidery, all of which is done by hand. But since the complicated process scares away young girls, only a few can carry on the tradition, making it an almost lost art.

LAI XINLIN/CHINA DAILY Ethnic Dong women sew blouses at Xiaohuang village in Guizhou province. Some Dong women use sewing machines for the purpose.