To ring in the Chinese new year, people in many regions of the country love to dress their kids with tiger shoes. In east China's Shandong Province, one woman in her eighties has kept the tradition of making tiger shoes for children in her family every year.

These exquisite tiger shoes can qualify a refined piece of art work. The deft hands behind them are those of 86-year-old Ms. Zhang.

Ms. Zhang, said, "Tiger shoes are special New Year gifts for children. The shoes can bring good luck and prosperity during the year ahead."

It's a treasured tradition in Ms. Zhang's family. She has learnt the craft of sewing and embroidering tiger shoes from her grandmother and mother. And she can't remember exactly how many tiger shoes she has made for her sons, grandsons and great grandsons in the past six decades.

Currently, the youngest child in Ms. Zhang's family is already 16 years old, too old to wear tiger shoes any more. But she has yet no intention of stopping making them.

Her children cherish the handicrafts as precious heirlooms that they say contain loads of love and best wishes.

Go to Forum >>0 Comments