"I have uploaded video courses online and also taught primary school students how to make cotton craft," she says.

"Everyone likes it."

To date, Xu has integrated modern painting genres, such as oil painting, watercolor painting and colored pencil drawing, with the cotton craft, and she plans to explore a wider range of styles.

"Each generation of inheritors should breathe something new to the craft, while keeping key traditional elements," Xu says.

"It will better help the craft thrive."

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn