Recently, the final stitch was added to "Returning Tide" ("Gui Chao"), a large-scale Chaozhou embroidery tapestry, during a ceremony at the Chen Weinan Cultural and Art Center in Chaozhou. The event, themed "Tides ebb and flow, hearts across the seas unite," brought together representatives from global Chaozhou communities, local leaders, and the creative team to finalize this collective masterpiece.
The project, involving over 10,000 participants from more than 120 Chaozhou associations worldwide over several months, was organized as a prelude to the 23rd International Teochew Convention. This marks the first time the convention will be held in its ancestral home, Chaozhou.
Chaozhou embroidery, an intangible cultural heritage of China, served as a cultural symbol to unite Teochew people globally. Through online platforms and offline workshops at the Xie Xiuhua Chaozhou Embroidery Museum, participants collaborated on the tapestry, strengthening cultural identity and building momentum for the upcoming convention.
Measuring approximately six meters long and 1.5 meters wide, the artwork was designed by Wu Huizhong, a member of the China Artists Association from Raoping County. The embroidery depicts the Teochew narrative—from the "red-headed boats" and the "three rivers flowing to the sea," symbolizing ancestors sailing to Southeast Asia, to iconic landmarks like the Guangji Bridge and Zhenhai Tower. It showcases the pioneering spirit of the Teochew people and their enduring connection to their homeland.
Author | Jiang Chang
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
