Among ancient silk fabrics, "Jin(brocade)" refers to textiles representing the highest level of weaving craftsmanship. Yunjin(cloud-pattern brocade) is known for its brilliant colors that resemble clouds at sunrise and sunset, and is also known as "Nanjing Yunjin" because it has historically been produced only in Nanjing. In 2009, the Nanjing Yunjin weaving technique was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Source: Official WeChat account of Nanjing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau

Nanjing Yunjin is famed as "an inch of brocade is an inch of gold". Its value lies not only in the use of raw materials such as gold, silver and copper threads, silk, fine yarn and various bird and animal feathers, but also in its highly intricate weaving process and unique techniques. The weaving technique of Nanjing Yunjin preserves the traditions of royal textile production and represents the highest level of brocade craftsmanship in China.

Source: Official WeChat account of Nanjing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau

Weaving Yunjin requires close cooperation between two craftsmen: the pattern controller and the weaver. They use a traditional large-scale wooden loom known as the "flower loom", working through numerous complex procedures. Together, they can produce only 5-6 centimeters of brocade in a single day, a process that remains impossible for machines to replicate.

Source: Official WeChat account of Nanjing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau

Recommended Place to Visit

Nanjing Yunjin Museum

For those wishing to learn about Nanjing Yunjin, we highly recommend the Nanjing Yunjin Museum. The museum offers live demonstrations of Yunjin weaving techniques, along with a variety of cultural and creative products inspired by Yunjin. In 2026, the museum will be relocated. As the museum prepares to move and begin a new chapter, a special exhibition for farewell to the old venue and welcome to Year 2026 (Year of the Horse) is going on. The new venue is located in the core area of the Jiangdong Commercial and Trade Zone in JianyeDistrict, facing Jiangdong Middle Road to the west and Hanzhongmen Street to the north, and adjacent to Yunjin Road Station on Nanjing Metro Line 2.

Source: Nanjing Yunjin Museum

Opening Hours & Admission

Opening Hours：Monday to Sunday 9:30–17:00

Admission：Scan the code for entry