The Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women was held in Beijing from Oct. 13-14. At the event, a total of forty-six outstanding intangible cultural heritage art pieces were showcased in a special exhibition themed around women. One of the pieces, a Li Brocade wall hanging from Hainan, was particularly eye-catching, attracting attention and praise from women representatives from around the world.

(Photo courtesy of the Wuzhishan City Ethnic Affairs Bureau)

The Li Brocade wall hanging, inspired by the seasonal scenery of Hainan’s Wuzhi Mountain, condenses thousands of years of womens’ wisdom and skill into a relatively small work of art. The four meter long and 0.7 meter wide brocade symbolizes the collaborative efforts of approximately 4 billion women worldwide as well as the vital role played by China's nearly 700 million women in the global advancement of women's causes.

The Li Brocade wall hanging is the work of three Li women from Wuzhishan City: Wang Xuebing, Liu Weitong, and Liu Weijiao. The three are all Li traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving, and embroidery technique representatives. In July, upon the recommendation of the Hainan Provincial Women's Federation, the All-China Women's Federation decided to select a Li Brocade piece for exhibition at the 2025 Global Women's Summit. On August 2nd, the three women received the commission to weave the Li Brocade wall hanging.

Time was of the essence, so the three women took turns weaving during the day. Even at night, after a full day of farm work, they didn’t rest, but instead kept at their task. Their dedication paid off, and the piece was finished on time.

The traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery techniques of the Li people date back over 3,000 years, making them one of the earliest in China and even in the world. In recent years, Wuzhishan City has continued to improve methods of preservation and passing down this intangible cultural heritage art, working to both continue the long tradition as well as innovate for the future, and protecting this Li cultural art and intangible cultural heritage skill. Over 5,400 people in the city have mastered the art of weaving Li Brocade, and seven intangible cultural heritage workshops have been set up.

“Wuzhishan City is exploring multiple paths for the development of the Li and Miao intangible cultural heritage arts, including fashion, branding, and internationalization. Local Li Brocade and Miao embroidery items have appeared on stage at Paris Fashion Week, China International Fashion Week, and other events many times, and their international influence is on the rise,” said a Wuzhishan city official.

After being exhibited at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, the Li Brocade wall hanging will be donated to and exhibited at the China National Museum of Women and Children.