Xincheng Brocade

Xincheng Brocade

　　A traditional handwoven brocade of the Zhuang ethnic group. It is said to have originated around the Song Dynasty. The base is woven with cotton or linen threads in a plain weave for both warp and weft, while thick untwisted silk threads in various colors are used as pattern wefts to create motifs. These motifs form symmetrical patterns on both sides of the fabric, completely covering the ground weave and adding to the fabric’s thickness. The colors are vibrant and contrasting, with patterns mostly featuring diamond-shaped geometric designs, structured rigorously yet rich in variation, and exhibiting a bold and vivid artistic style. It is used to make clothing, scarves, bags, tablecloths, and more. The main production areas are located in counties such as Jingxi, Xincheng, and Binyang in Guangxi. Traditional patterns mainly include over 20 designs such as “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl,” meanders, water patterns, cloud motifs, flowers, and animals, and in recent years, more than 80 new patterns have been introduced—such as “Guilin Scenery” and “National Unity”—all of which are rich in ethnic style.