Hongyuantai Dyehouse (宏源泰染坊), founded during the Song Dynasty and flourishing during the Ming, Qing, and early Republic of China periods, boasts a history of several hundred years. After relocating to Wuzhen during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, it became a production base and distribution center for indigo-dyed printed cloth. For centuries, Hongyuantai Dyehouse has adhered to traditional handcrafting techniques, following ancestral methods to preserve the ancient art form of indigo-dyed printed cloth.
Indigo-dyed printed cloth uses the pigment of natural plant indigo grass as the dye, with soybean powder and lime powder as resist paste, employing woodblock carving and paste scraping to dye the fabric. From selecting the finest cotton fabric as raw material to meticulous block carving, repeated dyeing, and final block scraping and drying, each step requires careful attention to detail. This unique crafting process gives indigo-dyed printed cloth its charming floral patterns and distinctive colors.
Hongyuantai Dyehouse adopts a front-shop and back-workshop layout. The front hall serves as a store selling finished indigo-dyed printed cloth products, while the back hall functions as a workshop, including exhibition halls, paste-coating and baking flower rooms, dyeing rooms, and drying fields. Despite its modest size, it exudes local quality. Here, visitors can witness the entire process of traditional craftsmanship of indigo-dyed printed cloth, experiencing the exquisite skills and dedication of artisans.
Today, Hongyuantai Dyehouse has become a renowned tourist attraction in Wuzhen. Visitors can learn about the production techniques and cultural background of indigo-dyed printed cloth and purchase exquisite indigo-dyed printed cloth products as souvenirs. Additionally, across the street, there is a raw material workshop for indigo-dyed printed cloth, where visitors can witness the process of cottonseed crushing, yarn spinning, and cotton fabric weaving, gaining a deeper understanding of the production process of indigo-dyed printed cloth.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | Included in the ticket for the eastern section of Wuzhen |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 17.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0573-88731088 0086-0573-88717508 |
Location and Transportation
Hongyuantai Dyehouse is located at No. 294 East Street, East Zone Scenic Area of Wuzhen, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. To get there, you can take bus Suzhou 7213, Tongxiang K019, Tongxiang K232, Tongxiang K337, Tongxiang K338, Tongxiang K340, Tongxiang 347, Tongxiang K350, or Tongxiang K353, get off at Dongzha Scenic Area Stop (东栅景区站), and walk about 350 meters to the north.