Dandong Silk

Dandong Silk

　　In the history of silk production in China, there is a saying: “Mulberry in the south, oak silk in the north.” “Oak silk in the north” refers to the production of tussah silk in the Dandong area. Tussah silk is the raw material used to make silk. Of China’s tussah resources, 85% are in Liaoning Province, and 80% of Liaoning’s are in Dandong. For over a hundred years, Dandong has been the country’s largest base for processing tussah silk raw materials and producing tussah silk products. Dandong tussah silk is renowned both in China and abroad and is a traditional export product of China’s textile industry. It was once said that “Heaven is above, and the silk market is below,” reflecting the golden age of Dandong’s silk and cocoon industry. With the passage of time, tussah silk products have continued to improve in quality and craftsmanship, and many premium items are often presented as state gifts to foreign guests. They have also become a top choice for visitors coming to Dandong—this is the everlasting pride of Dandong silk. Since the 1960s, Dandong’s silk industry has developed into the nation’s largest and most comprehensive production system. Before 1992, during the peak years of Dandong’s silk industry, the city’s annual silk output value was around 350 to 450 million yuan.