Embroidering on leaves—it is a new type of folk art developed by a woman from the Miao ethnic minority in southwest China’s Guizhou. It unites craftsmanship with nature. Yang Li is an artist who promotes art from her hometown in an innovative way.

Ethnic Miao woman embroiders on leaves

Miao Leaf Embroidery, which Yang created, has gained fame beyond its hometown Tong Ling, in Guizhou province. 

Yang has long been fascinated by the scenery of her hometown. And she thinks the leaves there epitomize the beauty of the place. Back in 2009, she collected more than 1,000 tree leaves from nearby Fanjing mountain, hoping to make art out them. She realized that after being steamed, boiled and placed in the sun, a leaf could become a beautiful “canvas” to embroider on.

“It’s a painstaking process to embroider on a leaf. There are 30 steps to get the leaf ready for us to embroider on it. And only one in hundreds can be successfully processed to become one to embroider on. Let alone you have to be very careful to not break the leaf when you're embroidering,” Yang said.

Yang’s creation has made her embroidery one of a kind in the trade. In 2011, her work came away with the highest honor at the “Colorful Guizhou” tourism merchandise competition. 

Her works have also gained several patent rights from China. Now her company receives orders from dozens of foreign trading companies, including in Italy, Japan, France and India. Her works have also been chosen as gifts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Yang said, “Our art represents the exquisiteness of Guizhou embroidery. I hope our art can be a calling card to Guizhou. I also hope, as gifts for ambassadors from different countries, it can be something representing our hometown, to the rest of the world.”

Yang has established six bases to make the Miao Leaf Embroidery. There they have trained more than 1,200 people. And dozens of them are already considered “deft hands” who can create the most beautiful leaf embroidery.