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Earlier this year, the 2026 CMG Spring Festival Gala presented a visually stunning performance as 24 children carried baskets filled with seasonal blooms representing the 12 flower goddesses to the stage.
A flower goddess holds a Yangzhou tongcao flower basket. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
Created by Zhu Xin, a municipal-level inheritor of Yangzhou tongcao flower making, and her team with tongcao paper, these "never-withering" blossoms brought to life the Yangzhou philosophy of keeping nature's beauty in daily life.
Yangzhou artisan Zhu Xin makes a tongcao flower. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
Tongcao flowers are crafted through a traditional art form that employs the stem pith of the tongcao plant, which can absorb dyes easily. Skilled artisans transform this pith into lifelike blooms through a detailed process that involves dyeing, sculpting petals, assembling the flowers and creating leaves and stems. The final pieces are then elegantly potted or framed to showcase the artistry.
In March 2007, authorities inscribed Yangzhou tongcao flower making onto the first provincial-level intangible cultural heritage list. Zhu has since dedicated herself to revitalizing this ancient craft, creating modern designs that have won widespread acclaim and introduced the art form to broader audiences.