Lotus Blossoms with Each Step: A Special Exhibition on Re-creating Classical Chinese Carpets

Following the successful conclusion of the exhibition at Shenzhen Marine Art World, the special exhibition “Lotus Blossoms with Each Step: Re-creating Classical Chinese Carpets” will officially open at the Rongbaozhai Guangzhou Gallery on March 19.

The gallery is situated on the shores of Dongshan Lake—one of the “Eight Scenic Views of Guangzhou”—surrounded by ancient banyan trees and exuding an air of serene tranquility. As Rongbaozhai’s first branch in South China, this venue inherits the refined elegance of Beijing while incorporating the scholarly atmosphere of Lingnan. Selected in 2025 as one of the “Creative Guangzhou Top 100 Cultural and Creative Spaces,” it has become a highly sought-after destination for Chinese aesthetics. We look forward to this elegant space, where the essence of the north and south converge, as our classical Chinese carpets—dyed with natural plant-based dyes—interact and blend with their surroundings, creating a stunning dialogue that transcends time and space.

  Exhibition Venue  
Rongbaozhai Guangzhou (123-3 Donghu Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou)

  Exhibition Dates 
March 19–April 12, 2026

 Foreword 

During the three-century span from the Ming Yongle era to the Qing Yongzheng era, Chinese carpets reached the pinnacle of craftsmanship and aesthetic refinement, a period historically known as the “Classical Period.” The antique carpets from this era feature exquisite and harmonious designs. Wool dyed with plant-based dyes and woven using traditional hand-knotting techniques produced Ming-dynasty carpets with deep, rich hues and a substantial texture, as well as the soft and elegant “Old Ningxia” carpets. These are hailed as “soft gold,” embodying Eastern aesthetics and auspicious symbolism. However, as time passed, these treasures were either damaged, lost, or scattered to foreign lands, leaving very few surviving examples; the techniques used to create them have also nearly been lost to time.

For twenty-six years, the Banshan Dyeing and Weaving Art Workshop has remained true to its craftsmanship, dedicating itself to the mission of “recreating the classical and restoring authenticity.” By deeply studying the ancient dyeing and weaving methods recorded in *Tian Gong Kai Wu*, the workshop has revived traditional weaving techniques such as “soft weaving.” From the selection of premium wool from around the world to the slow-fire dyeing of yarns using natural materials such as locust seeds and madder, every step of the process follows ancient methods, striving to fully revive the patterns, color gradations, and fabric textures of classical carpets.

On this occasion, Rongbaozhai Art & Lifestyle and the Half-Mountain Dyeing and Weaving Art Workshop have joined forces to present the special exhibition “Lotus Blooms with Every Step: Reviving Ancient Chinese Carpets.” The exhibition aims to weave the aesthetics embodied in classical carpets back into the fabric of contemporary life. It is not merely a physical display of over twenty meticulously reproduced treasures, but an aesthetic awakening that blends history, craftsmanship, and philosophical reflection. We hope that as visitors gently tread upon the carpets, they will not only sense the auspicious imagery of “lotus blossoms with every step,” but also appreciate the poetic narrative of life that traditional craftsmanship continues to weave in the present day.


  A Glimpse of the Shenzhen Exhibition