Editor's Note:
As the gaze of the world turns to Shenzhen for the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2026, a different kind of dialogue is unfolding beyond the summit halls. It is a conversation of shared heritage. Guangdong, the beating heart of Lingnan culture, has long been a maritime gateway where the East meets the Asia-Pacific. In this special series, APEC CP, we look past the modern skyline to find the delicate threads that bind us together. By pairing Guangdong's intangible cultural heritage with its counterparts across the Pacific, we explore the cultural resonance found in our hands and histories.
In a quiet studio in Guangdong, South China, a master of Canton embroidery (广绣) threads silk through a taut frame. Her movements are fluid, precise, and silent. Stitch by stich, a shimmering phoenix and vivid kapok flowers begin to take shape. Across the vast Atlantic, in the windswept highlands of the Andes, a Peruvian weaver sits in front of a traditional loom. Her hands move with a different rhythm, yet with the same intent, interlacing vibrant wool into geometric patterns.
Though born from vastly different cultural landscapes, these artisans are kindred spirits. Armed with nothing more than a needle, a thread, and a legacy passed down through generations, both have mastered the art of weaving.
The luminous legacy of Canton embroidery
For the people of Guangdong, Canton embroidery is more than decoration; it embodies the flowing history of the Lingnan region. Renowned as one of the "Four Great Embroideries of China", it was once a hallmark of the Maritime Silk Road. What sets Canton embroidery apart is its bold use of color and diverse materials—historically even incorporating peacock feathers and horsetail hair—to create 3D effects that stunned royal courts from Europe to Southeast Asia.
Since 1575 (Ming Dynasty), Spain opened a maritime route connecting Guangzhou to Peru. Canton embroidery shawls were first shipped from Guangzhou to Macao, then to Manila in the Philippines, before crossing the Pacific to reach Mexico and Peru. From there, they were re-exported to Spain and other European countries. Because of this long-distance transit, Westerners only knew the shawls arrived from the port of Manila. Consequently, in the West, these shawls, embroidered in the Canton style, became known as "Manila Shawls" (mantón de Manila).
The woven language of Peruvian textiles
Across the ocean, the aesthetic language of flora and fauna takes on another captivating form—Peruvian weave. For centuries, Peruvian textiles have served as a silent, woven language: nature is abstracted into totems, and dyes derive from insects and minerals. For the indigenous communities of Peru, the color of a thread or the angle of a diamond motif can indicate one's village, social status, or relationship with Pachamama (mother earth).
In the mid-to-late 19th century, driven by the tides of global labor, tens of thousands of Chinese migrants—mainly from the Cantonese and Hakka regions of Guangdong—arrived on Peruvian shores. They brought with them the sophisticated silk-splitting (劈丝) and color-fixing (固色) techniques of Canton embroidery to the local workshops. When the delicate precision of Guangdong met the rugged durability of Andean wool, a new standard of fineness emerged. This fusion did more than improve the textiles—it created a hybrid art form that redefined both beauty and endurance.
A new rhythm for a modern era
Today, the exchange is no longer just about survival or trade—it is about innovation. In recent years, Guangdong has been digitizing Canton embroidery techniques, patterns, and historical data. Some young artists have even explored the use of artificial intelligence to expand the applications and dissemination of these traditional skills. During the 21st International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) in May 2025, Peruvian exhibitors showcased fashion alpaca products, such as toys and home decorations, captivating audiences across generations.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Peru—the ancient rhythm of the needle and the loom is being rediscovered for a global audience. The intangible cultural heritages, with their creative patterns, demonstrate that while the materials may change, the shared human impulse to weave memory into art remains eternal.
Author & Video: Dong Han
Poster: Lai Meiya
