For over 5,000 years, Chinese silk has been treasured as the world's most luxurious fabric — so valuable it gave its name to the Silk Road itself. Discover the history, the craft, and how to shop for authentic silk on your China tour.
According to legend, the Empress Leizu discovered silk when a cocoon fell into her tea around 2,700 BC. For millennia, the secret of sericulture was guarded, and silk became China's most valuable export, traded along the Silk Road to Rome and beyond.
Silk comes from the cocoons of silkworms, which are boiled to unwind the delicate filaments — each cocoon yields 300-900 meters of thread. The threads are spun, dyed, and woven into the shimmering fabric prized worldwide.
Mulberry silk is the finest and most common. Tussah (wild) silk has a coarser texture. Silk satin, silk chiffon, and silk brocade are among the popular weaves. Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Sichuan are China's most famous silk-producing regions.
While China still produces most of the world's silk, the craft now coexists with modern design. Today you'll find silk in high-fashion ateliers, traditional qipao tailors, and vibrant silk markets in every major city.
For quality, look for the label indicating pure silk (真丝) rather than rayon (äşşé€ ä¸ť). Famous silk shops include Suzhou's silk factories and Hangzhou's China Silk City. Check the weave, feel the texture, and burn-test a loose thread (real silk burns to ash without melting).
A silk scarf, tie, or set of silk bedding makes an exquisite souvenir. A custom-tailored silk qipao or shirt from a local tailor is a unique keepsake. Prices vary widely — know what you're buying and bargain politely in markets.