A group of incredible guides have emerged to introduce Hainan’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) to the world. Through their hard work and dedication, they are bringing these ancient treasures out of the island’s hidden mountain villages and onto the international stage, allowing Hainan’s culture to shine through global cultural exchanges.

Li Brocade Stuns the World on the Paris Runway

In recent years, Hainan’s Li Brocade has graced the runways of Paris Fashion Week twice, allowing this ancient craft to shine brilliantly on the international stage.

Cao Yinqiao, General Manager of the Wuzhishan Tropical Rainforest Tourism and Culture Investment Group Company is one of the key reasons for this success.

Cao Yinqiao

Cao recalls that the journey of bringing Wuzhishan’s Li Brocade overseas began way back in 2023.

On October 29 of that year, the opening ceremony for the Li Brocade International Talent Training Program was held. "At that time, we realized that to get Li Brocade out of the mountains, craftsmanship alone wasn't enough," Cao says. "We needed talent who understood international design and global markets."

With the support of the local government, Cao began to reach out to international designers. This led to a two-year partnership with the Istituto Marangoni in Italy to train over 30 local talents who are now well-versed in both traditional Li Brocade and modern design.

On September 27, 2024, under the bright lights of the Bridge Club at Pont Alexandre III in Paris, the Spring/Summer 2025 collection by Chinese-American designer Vivienne Tam made a stunning debut.

As original Li Brocade fabrics—blending rainforest imagery and Li cultural patterns—appeared before the crowd, the venue erupted in thunderous applause. Behind this moment were countless days and nights of hard work by Cao and his team.

During the preparation phase, the design team was awestruck by the exquisite patterns. To better fit the overall stage style, they initially planned to adjust the layout, color schemes, and to cut apart certain motifs.

Instead of arguing over technicalities, Cao invited the design team to visit Li villages and meet master cultural heritage representatives of the traditional spinning, dyeing, and weaving arts. He patiently explained the stories behind every symbol.

"The frog motif represents the Li people's prayers for favorable weather, human figures record the migratory footprints of their ancestors, and the Gan Gong Bird tells a legend of freedom and eternal love…"

"Every thread and every color is a deliberate choice," Cao explained, pointing to a piece of brocade. "This diamond pattern represents rice fields, and the waves represent rivers. The jagged edges are there to protect the core motif in the center—they cannot be simply cut away."

Deeply moved, Vivienne Tam realized that the parts she initially wanted to alter actually carried the deepest cultural meanings. She decided to preserve the original appearance of the Li Brocade as much as possible, using clever lighting, model choreography, and fabric layering to let the authentic craft radiate a modern, fashionable glow.

Cao also noticed that many cultural heritage representatives were unfamiliar with copyright laws. He took the lead in contacting different government departments and guided the artisans through the paperwork to complete copyright registration, safeguarding this thousand-year-old skill.

During Paris Fashion Week, Cao and his staff wore clothing featuring Li Brocade elements wherever they went. Through his cheerful, outgoing personality, he guided international designers to focus on Li elements, encouraged them to photograph cultural products, and explained the mythology behind each pattern. "I just thought: every extra word of promotion and every extra bit of display is one more chance for Hainan culture to be seen by the world."

On March 11, 2025, Li Brocade stunned the world once again at an official show at the historic Cordeliers building in Paris. French designer Véronique Leroy created a "Li Brocade Master Series," deconstructing and enlarging motifs like the “God of Strength" and the "Gan Gong Bird," blending them with modern knits and carved velvet.

This time, Cao broke another barrier. The venue was originally reserved strictly for the runway, with no extra exhibition space. After a series of negotiations, he convinced the organizers to allow cultural heritage representatives Tan Chaoyan and Liu Weitong to demonstrate traditional waist-loom Li Brocade weaving live on-site and showcase products like Wuzhishan Large-Leaf Tea.

Today, thanks to Cao’s efforts, the "Miss Li" public brand has become widely known. From clothing and silk scarves to handbags and cultural ornaments, Li Brocade has left behind the reputation of a "lonely mountain relic" to become a global trend that balances Hainan Li aesthetics with modern utility.

"I hope to be like my name," says Cao (whose first name Qiao means bridge). "I want to serve as a bridge for cultural exchange between China and the world."