Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
More than a dozen men and women sit at wooden looms, sliding shuttles through rows of wool yarn before pulling each thread tight. They repeat it again and again as they weave Pulu, the traditional woollen fabric that has clothed people on the Tibetan plateau for centuries.
They work at the Ethnic Huaji Handwoven Cooperative in Shannan, where artisans are trying to preserve one of Tibet’s oldest weaving traditions while creating jobs for local residents.
Founded in 2008 by Tibetan artisan Pasang, the cooperative employs more than 100 people, including some with disabilities. It teaches younger Tibetans a craft that Pasang feared was disappearing.
The cooperative specialises in Zeter, a finer variety of Pulu made from especially soft wool from the necks and backs of sheep.
Pasang said he learned the craft from his parents. At the time, fewer than 10 people still knew how to weave Zeter.
He added that the craft has been recognised as part of China’s national intangible cultural heritage. Pasang said that he hopes younger generations will continue practising it.
