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April 12, 2017

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Huangdaopo Hall opens after renovation

THE Huangdaopo Memorial Hall inside the Shanghai Botanical Garden opened to the public after a two-year restoration.

Taking up an area of more than 2,000 square meters, the newly reconstructed hall includes a secluded courtyard for cotton plantation, a pavilion and a marble boat over a pond.

Huang Daopo was considered a textile pioneer in the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). She hailed from Wunijing in today’s Songjiang District in suburban Shanghai. A child bride, Huang was badly mistreated by her in-laws and eventually fled her marital home and went to the island province of Hainan in southern China. There she learned about cotton cultivation and textiles from local Li ethnic people.

She returned to her hometown before the start of the 14th century. At that time, cotton became a popular crop in the Yangtze River Delta, but techniques of weaving and spinning were still relatively unknown.

So she started teaching local people what she had learned in Hainan.

According to the historical records at the exhibition hall, Huang is credited with inventing a fluffing machine, crushers and a three-spindle treadle to power the looms.

With the technology and machines, she produced mixed cotton fabrics, colored fabrics and fabrics with mixed warp and weft fibers. The patterns on clothing and quilts were enriched with colorful designs that included flowers and flying phoenix.

Shanghai prospered and became a major textile producer well into the 20th century, thanks largely to the weaving culture that was passed on from generation to generation.

To protect the park, the maximum number of people allowed into the hall at one time is restricted to 100. Visitors need to get a number at the entrance.

Date: Daily, 9am-4pm

Address: Shanghai Botanical Garden, 1111 Longwu Rd




 

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