Using only plants, water, and sunlight, Zhanjiang's plant-dyeing technique transforms nature's colors into fabric. With a history dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220), Leizhou Ge cloth (雷州葛布) was once presented as imperial tribute and traded along the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
Today, artisans continue to use local plants such as kapok flowers and madder root to create natural dyes. Ge cloth and silk scarves are boiled, soaked, and sun-dried to produce rich, earthy tones and unique textures. This intangible cultural heritage has now become a popular immersive cultural experience for the younger generation.
Scarves and Ge cloth socks made with traditional plant-dyeing techniques.
Plant-dyed Leizhou Ge cloth bags.
Boil dried kapok flowers to extract natural pigments.
The density of the knots and folds in the tied Ge cloth determines the final texture and pattern.
Simmer the Ge cloth in a dye bath made from madder root and kapok flowers.
Remove the Ge cloth and rinse off the excess dye with clean water.
Fold and tie the mulberry silk scarf. The knots and folds shape the final texture and pattern.
Boil the mulberry silk scarf in a dye bath made from madder root.
Air-dry the finished plant-dyed silk scarf.
Author & Photo: Lin Riqing
