Editor's Note: This article is produced in collaboration with the Chongqing Institute of Foreign Studies as part of a series of ongoing reports exploring the city's abundant resources in intangible cultural heritages.

Straw plaiting.

Straw plaiting is a popular folk handicraft that was included in the second batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2008. Craftsmen often utilize local resources across different regions to create various daily-use items such as baskets, fruit bowls, cup sets, basin mats, hats, sandals, and pillow mats. To enhance their beauty, some artisans incorporate diverse patterns using dyed straws, while others print decorative designs on the woven products afterward. These artifacts are not only economical and practical but also charming and finely crafted.

In Chongqing, a skilled straw-weaving artisan named Ming Mei has been dedicated to this craft since childhood, learning the techniques from her mother. She has introduced this traditional art into campuses, communities, markets, and people's lives. 

Driven by her passion, Ming Mei has pursued this profession for over 20 years. She describes it as "a childhood nightmare but an adulthood hobby." Traditionally, Chongqing straw plaited articles were mostly limited to straw hats, but Ming Mei has diversified the range of products. By adapting basic plaiting methods, she has created a variety of household items. Most of her creations are made from Juncus roemerianus, also known as the Chinese alpine rush. It is a high-quality raw material for making handwoven articles due to its low lignin content, high cellulose content, slender fibers, and toughness. Her purely handwoven works include a wide array of storage baskets, straw hats, fans, and mobile phone pouches, all popular among consumers. 

The production process of a straw-plaited article is intricate, involving over ten steps, from selecting the straws to completing the piece. This labor-intensive process, combined with the absence of mechanized mass production, imbues each artifact with the warmth and best wishes of the craftsman, making it exceptionally precious.

Artifacts plaited with Juncus roemerianus carry a faint fragrance of grass, which is particularly distinct in circular fans. Juncus roemerianus grows in water and is dried in the sun after harvest. Later, water is sprayed on the straw to restore its toughness before being gently ground by stones to make plaiting smoother. These properties make the plaited circular fan durable, natural, and environmentally friendly. The cool, comfortable breeze they create, accompanied by a faint herbal fragrance, is known as a "warm breeze." In Chongqing, this breeze is particularly suitable for the elderly, children, pregnant women, and women in the puerperal period.

During holidays, Ming Mei taught her children straw plaiting techniques at home. With a basket of straws and a corner to sit in, Ming Mei could make various kinds of household woven products with her dexterous fingers. 

Having devoted 20 years to straw plaiting, Ming Mei enthusiastically pursues this craft. Her persistence and ingenuity are a testament to the enduring spirit of artisans.

Chinese script: Wei Wenqin

Tutored by: Liang Meijia

Translation: Wu Liang

Tutored by: Zhou Yinzhi Cheng Guo

Voice-over: Wang Jinxuan

Tutored by: Chen Juan