[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In the eyes of Shen Kaixuan, a young man from Lanshan district of Rizhao, Shandong province, plants like radix isatidis and marigold are not just ordinary botanicals found in nature - they also are excellent materials for his creative endeavors involving traditional Chinese dyeing.

The craft of dyeing and treating calico originated during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and reached its peak during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Through his research, Shen has preserved and promoted the ancient craft of making blue calico (untreated cotton, often used for wrapping, tablecloths and bedsheets).