Gao Pengying, aged 53, makes embroidery crafts in Yangquan city. [Photo/Yangquan Evening News] 

Gao Pengying, aged 53, is a practitioner and promoter of Jiaoqu embroidery, a cultural heritage item of Yangquan city.

Gao grew up in Xianren village in Yuxian county. Her grandmother and mother are famous throughout the village for their embroidery skills, and villagers often ask them to help make embroidery crafts. 

Since she was a child, Gao has made efforts in embroidery, and gradually mastered a variety of traditional embroidery methods taught by her grandmother and mother.

Examples of Gao's embroidery work [Photo/Yangquan Evening News]

"When I was seven years old, I started picking up needlework and learned from my grandmother and mother. From simple drawing patterns to matching embroidery thread colors, every improvement makes me feel a sense of accomplishment, and my interest in learning is getting stronger," said Gao. 

She has continued to be innovative while practicing this traditional craft so that she can better learn and incorporate different embroidery methods freely. In 2017, she joined Shanxi Huishengfu Trading Co, promoting the development of embroidery skills with others. 

"Although I am in my fifties, I still maintain my love for embroidery. I hope to pass on this skill and bring new talent to the old handicraft."