Hongyuantai Dye House

　　   China’s blue calico is world-renowned, and Wuzhen is one of its birthplaces. Hongyuantai Dye House was first established during the Song and Yuan dynasties, originally located in Nanzha. It was relocated here during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty. It serves as both a production base for blue calico and a distribution center for blue calico products.

　　   Introduction

　　   

　　   At Hongyuantai Dye House, you can watch a full demonstration of the traditional dyeing process, or pick up some finished blue calico products at the shop up front to take home.

　　   There is also a blue calico material workshop across the street, where several elderly women are delinting cotton seeds, spinning yarn, and weaving cotton cloth. Watching the whole process, you’ll see how blue calico is woven and how its fresh, charming patterns are printed.