Villagers make tiger-head hats for Chinese New Year in E China's Anhui

Fan Min (second from right) and villagers make tiger-head hats in Xiaohualou village, Guandimiao town, Dangshan county, Suzhou, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo/Cui Meng)

Fan Min, a municipal-level inheritor of the traditional tiger-head hat and shoe craft, works with fellow villagers to make tiger-head hats in Xiaohualou village, Guandimiao town, Dangshan county, Suzhou, east China's Anhui Province.

In Dangshan, tiger-head shoes and hats are deeply rooted Chinese New Year traditions, carrying elderly family members' heartfelt blessings for younger generations. Now in her 70s, Fan has been connected to the craft for 50 years. She learned the skills from her mother in her youth and has spent decades refining and preserving the tradition.

Though small in size, tiger-head shoes and hats involve intricate workmanship. Each piece goes through multiple meticulous steps. "Embroidering a single tiger head takes most of a day, and completing one item usually takes one to two days," Fan said.

Thanks to the dedication and innovation of Fan and other people, the traditional craft has gained renewed vitality. Young visitors from outside the village often stop by Fan's small courtyard to try on the finely made tiger-head hats and take photos.

Today, Fan also works with fellow villagers to produce the items together, turning the craft into a new source of income.

Fan Min (right) and a villager make tiger-head hats in Xiaohualou village, Guandimiao town, Dangshan county, Suzhou, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo/Cui Meng)

Fan Min (right) and a villager make tiger-head hats in Xiaohualou village, Guandimiao town, Dangshan county, Suzhou, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo/Cui Meng)

Fan Min places a freshly made tiger-head hat on a child in Xiaohualou village, Guandimiao town, Dangshan county, Suzhou, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo/Cui Meng)

A villager makes a tiger-head hat in Xiaohualou village, Guandimiao town, Dangshan county, Suzhou, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo/Cui Meng)