Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory

I had seen tie-dyeing in Dali, Yunnan, so I was particularly curious about the dyeing workshop and dragged my friend in.

As the saying goes, "The disciple is better than the master." The "master" here refers to the bluegrass.

If we hadn't seen the introduction, we wouldn't have known that these are the raw materials. They're similar to tie-dyeing in Yunnan. It turns out this indigo plant is full of treasures.

After learning about the indigo production process, we went to the finished goods store. Some people bought square scarves to wear around their heads, which was really nice, but considering my large head, I gave up. It looked good on others, but on me, it would have looked like a showpiece.

This dyeing workshop is smaller than the original Xizha Grass and Wood dyeing workshop, but its courtyard houses indigo grass for dyeing, cloth spread out to dry during the dyeing process, waxed lime and soybean powder, and molds for printing—a fascinating sight. The first step in production is to create a stencil. The master craftsman spreads cotton cloth on a printing table, covers it with a stencil, and applies starch with a roller. The indigo root, also known as Isatis indigotica, is used to create a sap for dyeing. The cloth is then soaked in a dye vat for 10 minutes, then dried and soaked again, repeated seven or eight times before drying. The smudges of color over time leave their mark on the fabric. The starched cloth is a bit stiff, but it softens after washing several times.

You need to buy a 110 yuan ticket to Dongzha to enter and visit. I bought a 25 yuan ticket to enter Dongzha in the evening of the previous day. I could only pass by. I should be able to visit just one of the dyeing workshops in Dongzha.

The blue floral fabric on the tall shelf is so beautiful...

Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory was founded during the Song and Yuan Dynasties. It is a tourist attraction with a shop in front and spinning in the back. The front hall is a shop that sells some blue printed cloth products, and the back yard is a workshop, including a cloth drying yard, sizing and baking room, dyeing room and exhibition hall.

No talking, just look at the pictures. That's it, a bunch of people taking pictures inside.

The colors of the dyeing workshop allow you to see the dyeing process!

I haven't watched the TV series, so I can't relate to the feelings in the show.

Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory was founded in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. It has now been transformed into a tourist attraction in Wuzhen. You can see the whole process demonstration of traditional production, or you can take some finished blue prints home from the shop in front.

In the Dongzha museum, there is a blue-dyed cloth shop where you can learn about it. We went in with a tour group. We had learned about similar tie-dyeing when we went to Yunnan before, but we had never been to a workshop, so it was really beautiful to see these long cloths flying in the air this time.

It's my first time to see a dyeing workshop. It's still very novel and worth a visit.

I don't know what dyeing workshop I went to, maybe the dyed cloth looks like this

Heading east along Wuzhen's Dongzha East Street, you'll find the Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory, a must-see destination. Wuzhen is one of the birthplaces of indigo dyeing. Records indicate that this dyeing factory dates back to the Song and Yuan dynasties, originally located in Nanzha, before moving to Dongzha during the Guangxu period (thankfully, it wasn't relocated to create a tourist attraction). This facility integrates folk customs, popular science, and cultural awareness. The building retains its ancient charm, and large patches of indigo still grow on the courtyard walls. Here, you can learn in detail about the production process of traditional indigo dyeing.

Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory was founded during the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Its original location was in Nanzha. It was moved here during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty and has now been transformed into a tourist attraction.

This is the production base of blue printed cloth and the distribution center of blue printed cloth products. It showcases traditional techniques and dyeing techniques.

Here you can see the whole process of traditional production, and you can also buy some finished blue prints as souvenirs in the shop in front.

Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory is a tourist attraction in Wuzhen's Dongzha area. Compared with the Caomu Bense Dyeing Factory in Xizha, it is better. It not only has the weaving process, but also the dyeing process.

Seeing this scene, I was reminded of the story of Princess Huanzhu making trouble in the dyeing workshop. Did I reveal my age?

The desolation of a beauty in her old age—a tribute to the gradually lost traditional craftsmanship.

It's just some fabrics placed there, nothing fancy, just a bit of history and culture.

If you are in Wuzhen, you must visit the scenic spots, which are very local.

It's quite nice. There are dyed cloths hanging in the yard, which is very suitable for taking pictures and buying souvenirs.

Within the Dongzha Scenic Area, there's an ancient workshop, said to have originated during the Northern Song Dynasty. It features a front-shop-back-workshop layout. It was also a filming location for the TV series "Time Like Water." The dyeing workshop is a traditional craft, even eligible for World Heritage status. The workshop displays numerous tie-dyed fabrics, making them perfect for photo ops. The ebony-clad building creates a unique, retro feel, giving it a distinctly Republican-era feel—a must-see!

The cloth dyed in the dyeing workshop is very beautiful. There is also a souvenir shop inside, where you can choose according to your needs!

Although I can't capture its beauty without a camera, it is a very pure place.

I was here during the Dragon Boat Festival in 2012. There were too many tourists.

The dyeing workshop in Xizha is larger than that in Dongzha.

There is a dyeing workshop in the east and west gates, and they are crowded with tourists!

A good place for taking pictures. Fortunately, there were not many people when I went there.

This is a dyeing workshop with a long history, probably founded during the Yuan Dynasty. Today, it serves as a tourist attraction in the Wuzhen scenic area. Dyeing demonstrations are occasionally held there, and the long, hanging dyed cloth often piques the interest of photography enthusiasts.

In a more eye-catching location in the scenic area, the local dyeing craft is displayed

Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory has a classical atmosphere and a very nice environment.

At Hongtaiyuan Dyeing Workshop, you can see a full demonstration of the traditional process, and you can also buy some finished blue prints from the shop in front to take home. However, the prices are not cheap, and apart from the commemorative value, they have basically no practical use, so I don’t recommend buying them.

When I went to Wuzhen Dongzha, the thing that impressed me most was the dyeing workshop.

The blue cloth flutters in the wind, very beautiful

Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory, founded in the Song Dynasty and the production base of Dongzha blue printed cloth, is one of the must-see attractions.

The first time I saw a dyeing workshop in person, I was shocked and felt the beauty of this traditional craft.

There is nothing special to recommend, but this blue print scene is also one of the symbols of Xizha, and you must go and see it when you come.

If you have time, you should go and have a look!!!

This dyeing workshop is in Dongzha. There is another one in Xizha, but I think this one is more interesting. Outside, you can buy Wuzhen's characteristic blue flower dyed cloth, various coin purses, backpacks, fans, etc., and inside you can observe the dyeing process.

It's a nice place to take photos, but there are too many tourists and it's hard to accommodate them. I can only wait for a group of tourists to disperse and take photos as soon as possible. There are still many friends in the camera, alas~~

This place is very suitable for taking pictures, but unfortunately my photography skills are too poor

It's a good place to shoot movies, but it's recommended not to go there on weekends. You need to show your ticket to enter, and you can only enter once. Although it's not big, please be patient and walk around inside.

We first passed by the Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop. Upon entering, we were greeted by rows of tall wooden racks, upon which numerous indigo-printed fabrics cascaded like waterfalls. The wind blew the banners, and people wandered through them, appearing and disappearing as if in a painting. Indigo-printed fabric originated in the Han and Jin dynasties, developed during the Song and Yuan dynasties, and flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Commonly known as "lime-printed cloth" or "printed blue cloth," it is dyed with the plant-based dye indigo. After spring sowing and autumn harvest, the leaves of indigo and indigo grass are soaked in a rock pool. After several days, the rotting branches are removed, and lime or clam powder is added to neutralize and precipitate the resulting dye, which resembles earth and is commonly known as "earth indigo." Wuzhen, one of the original birthplaces of indigo-printed fabric, once boasted dozens of dyeing workshops. Today, there are two in the East and West Scenic Areas, each serving as a tourist attraction, showcasing the traditional indigo-printing process and selling finished products.



It was around 10am, which was probably the peak time for tour groups to enter Dongzha. The dye house was so crowded that we could only hide in a corner where there were fewer tourists. We waited for the gaps between the groups of tourists taking photos and quickly took a couple of pictures, pretending that no one was around. If we wanted to wait until there was no one around, we would have to rush here as soon as the dye house opened.

The East and West fences have a feature~but one is outside and the other is in the yard

There are not as many colors as the dyeing workshop in Xizha, but the photos taken are also good.

It is necessary to have a knowledgeable tour guide when visiting cultural attractions. Unfortunately, I didn’t ask for one, so I just took a few photos in a hurry.

China's blue calico is world-renowned, and Wuzhen is one of its origins. Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop, founded during the Song and Yuan dynasties, was originally located in Nanzha. It relocated here during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty and became a production and distribution center for blue calico. At Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop, you can see a demonstration of the traditional dyeing process and take home some finished blue calico products from the shop in front. Opposite is a blue calico raw material workshop where several elderly women gin cotton seeds, spin yarn, and weave cotton cloth.

A classic must-see attraction. The atmosphere inside: everyone, everyone, everyone, everyone.

This place is really suitable for taking pictures. I like this blue dyed cloth very much, but the place is very small.

There are dyeing workshops in both Dongzha and Xizha, but the difference is that Dongzha mainly uses blue fabrics, while Xizha has more colors, so the photos will look good. However, there are always so many people, and you will always be photographed with other people in the camera. Fortunately, there is a high platform here, so you can take a panoramic photo from a high place, which is also very beautiful.

A cultural display, not very interesting.

A blue dream. If you love color and retro florals, don't miss this place! It's much quieter and more spectacular than West Stack. Blue florals float against the blue sky, so soft and enchanting. The soft, indigo-printed fabric is like a beauty hidden in an alley, whispering something in the soft Wu dialect. The wood carvings are beautiful, though a little worn and hard to see clearly. The courtyard is deep, giving it a unique charm.

It was a rainy day when I went there, and the printed cloth hanging there was soaked by the rain, but the blue became even more dazzling.

Colorful cloth, human handicraft is so amazing, beautiful like a painting

A must-see attraction for your trip to Wuzhen. Take a photo here to prove you've been to Wuzhen.

There are a lot of cloths hanging in the dyeing workshop, which are said to be hand-dyed. It is very spectacular. Many people are taking pictures with the cloths inside.

It can’t be called a scenery, it can only be said to be a feature.

There were a lot of blue cloths hanging there, but now they are probably extinct and the craft has been lost, which is a pity.

I had never seen how to dye cloth before, and this time I thought it was spectacular. I liked it so much that I bought a piece for myself, but when I got home I found that it didn’t match the style of my decoration, so I never used it.

I have always dreamed of being able to walk into this blue and white cloth and feel the familiar figures and smells...

Unfortunately, it was raining heavily when we went. If we went on a normal day, we could take some photos and experience the feeling of watching TV series.

At Hongyuantai Dyeing House, you can see a full demonstration of the traditional process, and you can also take some finished blue prints home from the shop in front.

There is also a blue print raw material workshop opposite. Several old ladies are ginning cotton seeds, spinning yarn, and weaving cotton cloth. By watching them, you will know how blue print is woven and how the fresh and lovely patterns are printed.

A good place for soap slices haha ~ like it

The dyeing workshop in Wuzhen was a novelty. It was my first time seeing cloth being dyed!

[Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory]



Hongyuantai Dyeing House, founded in the Song Dynasty, is the production base of blue printed textiles.

It is also a sales center for blue printed unfinished products.

You can see the traditional process demonstration of the whole process, but it’s a pity that we missed it when we came.

Today, the printing and dyeing of indigo prints still follows the traditional craftsmanship left by our ancestors.

From pattern design, pattern engraving, pattern painting, dyeing, drying, etc.

The production process is very natural, and the clear and elegant blue printed cloth is the best souvenir to give to others.

We didn't buy anything, but we saw many tourists taking one or two things to give as gifts.

I've heard that blue printed cloth is dyed with the leaves of the Isatis indigotica plant. Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop was also the filming location for the film "Time and Tide." These long, drooping strips of blue cloth, dancing in the wind against the blue sky, are truly beautiful. I stood stunned at one end of the cloth, wondering if the person I wanted to meet would appear on the other side as the wind lifted the blue cloth...

Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop produces blue calico. Blue calico is made from cotton through three processes: cottonseed ginning, yarn spinning, and weaving. The dye is made from the plant dye indigo. Wuzhen is one of the original production areas for blue calico.

When you come to Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop in Dongzha, you seem to see blue and white porcelain from the Song and Yuan dynasties floating in the air. There is a clear sky with flowing clouds in the sky, and on the ground is naturally flowing printed blue cloth. In this world dyed with orchids, you can feel the natural and simple beauty.

I went to Wuzhen with my dad. It's too famous and there are too many people.

A very emotional place, very beautiful and artistic.

Today is May Day and there are a lot of people. But I was still shocked when I saw it.

This attraction is inside Wuzhen's East Gate, so you need an entrance fee. Back when the East Gate wasn't so strict, you could still get away with it. While you could get in, some places, like the Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory, still required an entrance fee. The first time I went, I felt ripped off. The entrance fee was 80 yuan, which was steep. Then a rickshaw driver said they'd take us inside East Gate for 60 yuan for two people, which was a bargain, so we got on. He first took us to South Gate, where we explored an old street that didn't require an entrance fee. Then, he took us to the East Gate exit and told us cars weren't allowed in, so we could just walk in. We thought we were actually inside, so we paid, but we were still outside. What a rip-off! Don't take advantage of small bargains. It was raining that day, so it wasn't crowded, which was nice.

This is a small scenic spot in Xizha. China's blue printed cloth is world-famous, and Wuzhen is one of its origins. Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory was founded during the Song and Yuan dynasties, originally located in Nanzha. It was relocated here during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. It is a production base for blue printed cloth and a distribution center for blue printed cloth products.

Walking into the dyeing workshop, it is full of dyed fabrics, which looks very interesting.

When watching TV series, I often heard the name of Hongyuantai Dyeing Factory. When I saw it today, I was disappointed. It seems that the Jiangnan area is dominated by blue and white colors, simple and elegant, light blue, very beautiful.

The blue cloth was particularly beautiful in the sunlight, and the tools in the workshop told the story of each piece's origin. It was just that we couldn't understand it, and the hanging cloth had been wrinkled by tourists. Even so, it couldn't hide the beauty of these cloths...

At Hongyuantai Dyeing House, you can see a full demonstration of the traditional process, and you can also take some finished blue prints home from the shop in front.

There is also a blue print raw material workshop opposite. Several old ladies are ginning cotton seeds, spinning yarn, and weaving cotton cloth. By watching them, you will know how blue print is woven and how the fresh and lovely patterns are printed.

China's blue printed fabric is world-renowned, and Wuzhen is one of its origins. Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop, founded during the Song and Yuan dynasties, was originally located in Nanzha. It relocated here during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty and became a production base and distribution center for blue printed fabric products.

The local characteristics and ancient culture allow you to appreciate the craftsmanship and daily life of the ancient people. The cloth hanging above, when the breeze blows, outlines beautiful curves, which is very beautiful.

It's good that there are too many people taking pictures, so you need to stagger the time