[Video/Nantong Daily]

To celebrate the upcoming Year of the Dragon, the Nantong Blue Calico Museum in Jiangsu province released a series of dragon-shaped mascots made of blue calico cloth on Jan 22, captivating a multitude of visitors.

It has become a tradition of the museum to design zodiac mascots for the Lunar New Year. The dragon mascots this year were made into two styles – traditional meandering dragons and whimsical cartoon dragons in a sitting posture.

The mascots were designed by Wu Lingshu, daughter of the museum's curator, Wu Yuanxin. Wu Yuanxin is one of the first inheritors of the State-level intangible cultural heritage items and serves as the head of the Blue Calico Cloth Art Institute at Nantong University.

Inspired by her artisan parent, Wu Lingshu and her husband, Ni Shenjian, have together devoted themselves to the preservation and development of this ancient art form.

Nantong blue calico cloth was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item in 2006, and the city has since become known for the traditional craft.

A handicraftswoman stuffing a cartoon dragon mascot. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Handicraftswomen are busy making the dragon mascots. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The dragon mascots made of blue calico cloth on display at the Nantong Blue Calico Museum. [Photo/Nantong Daily]