The Silk Adventures
When I first went to China in 2008, I had little knowledge of the history of silk in China. My knowledge of this wonderful fabric was limited. I knew about it – I can’t recall being very interested in it, though I do recall having silkworms as a child. Some how we were given silkworm eggs, and when they hatched we watched them grow bigger, and eat the mulberry leaves that we fed them.
We watched them hatch from the eggs, grow into fat white caterpillars – you can read about the life of silkworms here.
When we were children, they were our first pets!
But it was in China that I was able to see hundreds of them, and the results of their silk creation.
Only a while later did I learn more about the amazing history of silk, and how once only emperors were allowed to wear this wonderful fabric created by the silk of the cocoons.
Of course, there is a lot written about the history of silk, and I suggest that there is great information here.
Dinner Time for the visitors to see
Cocoons – waiting
We visited a couple of Silk Museums – but the one in Hangzhou stands out. I recollect that it was at this museum that we saw demonstrations of the way that four ladies holding one cocoon – each one then holding tight as they backed away and a whole sheet of silk – big enough to cover the bed. Then layer upon layer, and they had the filling for a duvet.(You have to see it to comprehend.)
There are so many places to see or buy silk – and the prices are quite good too.
Silk Town in Hangzhou
This part of Hangzhou was a favourite of the Australian’s who taught at the college/university in Shaoxing for several reasons. Every few months we had to go to Hangzhou for medical tests. Not far from the medical centre, was the Silk Town or Market.
It was a relatively small market, but awesome fabrics and items of silk to observe or buy, but not only that, it was near a book shop that sold books in English! You can imagine it was a popular spot for us to visit. But it got better. There was a cafe beside it with a menu in English, and it gets even better. There were western toilets!!!
Always the appointments at the medical centre were in the morning, and if we did not wish to return on the university minibus, we could find our own way to either the train station or the bus station on our own.
So, it was always a big day for us!
