Litang Silverware

Litang Silverware

　　Silverware is a famous local specialty of Litang. The production of silverware in Litang has a history of over 300 years. Silver has disinfectant, detoxifying, and anti-rheumatic properties, and it is said that regularly drinking water or tea from silverware can benefit the stomach. Since ancient times, silver has been believed to ward off evil spirits in folk culture.

　　In the 21st year of the Kangxi reign (1662), a silversmith surnamed Duan from Heqing Prefecture in Yunnan came to Litang and opened a silversmith shop specializing in crafting silverware. Due to Duan’s intelligence and eagerness to learn, he quickly mastered the art of combining Han Chinese craftsmanship with Tibetan regional characteristics, creating a unique style of Litang silverware that merged Han and Tibetan influences. This distinctive style gained widespread acclaim in the Tibetan region, and the products were exported as far as Bhutan and Nepal.

　　The Duan Family Silversmith Shop in Litang County was established in October 1995, and in July 2015, it was registered as the Litang County Duan Family Traditional Ethnic Handicraft Development Co., Ltd., boasting a long history. For over 20 years, the company has been engaged in the development, processing, and sales of traditional ethnic handicrafts. The company is well-known for handcrafting silverware. In April 2005, it was awarded the title “Litang Silverware” by Sichuan Nationalities Publishing House. In 2007, it received recognition as a “Specialty Sales Counter” and “Designated Sales Unit” for ethnic handicrafts by the Ganzi Prefecture Ethnic Handicraft Development Group and the Ganzi Prefecture SME Development Bureau. In August 2014, it was honored as a “World High City – Featured Boutique Shop” by the Litang County Commerce Bureau, County Economic and Information Bureau, County Culture and Tourism Bureau, and County Administration for Industry and Commerce.