Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Parizat Abdu) news: "At the age of 20, I was already able to operate a loom and hand-weave wool carpets," said Mahpurat Mamatemin on January 15, 2025. She was at work at a workshop of Xinjiang Nakexiwan Handmade Carpet Development Co., Ltd., located in Yulongkashi Town, Hotan City, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Her fingers worked in perfect rhythm, swiftly threading and tying knots. With each knot, the cutting knife would drop, severing the yarn, and the process would begin again.

For thirty years, Mahpurat, now fifty, has repeated this movement countless times. She knows that with each repetition, she sustains the tradition of Hotan's handmade wool carpets.

Photo shows Mahpurat Mamatemin is busy with crafting a handmade carpet at a workshop of Xinjiang Nakexiwan Handmade Carpet Development Co., Ltd. in Yulongkashi Town, Hotan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Parizat Abdu)

Mahpurat was born in Yulongkashi Town, where every household weaves carpets. At the age of 15 or 16, she began learning carpet weaving from her mother. "It was difficult to learn; the 8-shaped knot weaving technique was challenging. My fingers wouldn't cooperate, and I often cut myself with the knife," she recalled with a shy smile as she reminisced about her early days of training. Mahpurat is known for her resilience; during the day, she would sit closely beside her mother, carefully observing each step and weaving technique. At dawn, while her mother was busy with household chores, she would sit at the loom, practicing repeatedly.

"In 2000, Mahpurat started working here, and the carpets she wove have traveled beyond Hotan, selling across the country," said Mawlan Muhtar, the general manager of Xinjiang Nakexiwan Handmade Carpet Development Co., Ltd.

Mahpurat said that the traditional handwoven wool carpets from Hotan showcase the meticulous process of selecting raw materials, dyeing techniques, and weaving methods passed down through generations. She further explained that the 8-shaped knot weaving technique creates carpets with 360, 540, or 720 lines, noting that the higher the line count, the more intricate and durable the design. In 2008, traditional Uygur crafting techniques for handmade carpets were added to the national-level intangible cultural heritage list.

Photo shows various carpets displayed in the showroom of Xinjiang Nakexiwan Handmade Carpet Development Co., Ltd. in Yulongkashi Town, Hotan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Parizat Abdu)

After over 30 years in the industry, Mahpurat has grown from an apprentice to a master craftsman in handwoven carpets. Among the 118 employees, she is the only one skilled in weaving silk carpets. "Silk threads are finer than wool, requiring more precision and care," she explained. The silk carpets crafted by Mahpurat are highly sought after by clients both domestically and internationally.

Mahpurat emphasizes that training a professional weaver takes two to three years. She is committed to passing on her skills to young craftsmen, ensuring that this ancient craft continues to thrive and shine with renewed brilliance.

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