On June 20, a documentary team from Shanghai Media Group’s Documentary Center, alongside BBC Studios Natural History Unit producer Paul Williams, delved into Lezhi County—the "Silk Capital of China" in Ziyang, Sichuan. They visited silk factories, silkworm rearing facilities, and intangible cultural heritage workshops showcasing traditional tea-roasting techniques, gaining a firsthand look at the county’s integrated development of the sericulture industry.

The Sites [Photo by Gui Binkai]

Within the silkworm rearing facility, scientifically designed ventilation and lighting systems created an optimal environment for growth. By implementing precision feed formulas and semi-automated processes, each batch of silkworm eggs yields 45-50 kg of cocoons—surpassing traditional methods by 15%. So far in 2025, three batches totaling 1,200 egg sheets have been distributed, which provides local employment for over 1,100 villagers.

The Sites [Photo by Gui Binkai]

At the intangible cultural heritage tea-roasting workshop, a master artisan took center stage before the roasting wok. Amid billowing steam from high-temperature blowers, his performed an elegant rhythm of tea craftsmanship—a symphony of fingertips in motion. The brewed tea captivated the visiting delegation with its "crisp elegance with sweet mellowness," earning rave reviews from all.

The Sites [Photo by Gui Binkai]

Artisans demonstrated the ancient "drawing out silk floss" technique in the quilt workshop. Grasping corners of thin silk layers, two craftsmen meticulously interlaced them warp-and-weft to form cloud-soft quilt padding. Each meticulously handcrafted quilt features silk filaments stretching up to 1,200 meters.

Building on this visit, Lezhi County will deepen its development model combining "sericulture cultural IP + digital agriculture + cross-border communication," ensuring this millennia-old industry thrives anew through rural revitalization. (By Jiang Zhuolin)