A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.

In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin. Since the qualities depend on the geographical place of production, there is a clear link between the product and its original place of production.

​

FINE HANDCRAFTS IN XIANGCHENG

Xiangcheng District is located in the hinterland of the Yangtze River Delta economic circle and at the geographical center of Suzhou City. It has a long history, rich culture and profound humanistic heritage. Xiangcheng has always been renowned as the "Hometown of Chinese Folk Arts and Crafts". It features 61 items on the non-heritage master list, including 2 national-level items. The "Xiangcheng Ten Wonders," such as the imperial kiln gold brick and Yuanhe Kesi, have been handed down to the present.

The non-heritage brand of Xiangcheng, Xiangcheng 28 Craftsmen, developed from the "Top Ten Unique Skills of Xiangcheng". It is a product of the integration of traditional handicrafts and Wu culture, and a concentrated expression of the contemporary spirit of craftsmanship. The brand includes 28 "craftsmanship" unit categories, covering a number of non-heritage skills and contemporary crafts. Among them, Ming-style furniture, Yuanhe Kesi silk, Weitang pearls, and Suzhou-style birdcages participated in this exhibition as representatives of Xiangcheng's non-heritage.

Suzhou Xiangcheng Ecological Culture and Tourism Development (Group) Co., Ltd. was established in January 2023 as a wholly state-owned enterprise under the jurisdiction of Xiangcheng District. The group, with ecology as its foundation, culture as its brand, and tourism as its vehicle, leverages the geographical advantages and rich cultural tourism resources of Xiangcheng District to create world-class cultural tourism and commercial projects.

The group is committed to exploring Xiangcheng’s intangible cultural heritage and innovative cultural and creative products, creating the "This Is Gift" brand to comprehensively promote local specialty products and cultural and entertainment activities. It drives the integration of online and offline experiences, the shopping of proprietary brands, and the combination of online and offline presence to foster a new digital consumption experience.

​

SUZHOU SILK MUSEUM

​Suzhou Cultural Investment Development Group Co., Ltd. was restructured and listed on October 31st, 2022. It is a first-level state-owned enterprise in Suzhou. Our group's mission is to consciously promote "Jiangnan culture" of the new era and fouse on three major business segments: cultural content creation and dissemination, venue operation and management, and industrial park development and operation. Driven by both investment and digitalization, the group continuously promotes institutional and mechanism innovation, enhances its core competitiveness, and strives to build itself into a first-class large-scale cultural enterprise. At the same time, our group has deep cooperation and engages in innovative exploration with the Suzhou Silk Museum, allowing silk patterns to shine across industries such as clothing decoration, daily care, industrial design, and product packaging. The Suzhou Silk Museum is revitalized, helping to promote the overseas dissemination of traditional Chinese culture and empowering industrial manufacturing upgrades.

​

​Suzhou Silk Museum is one of the national first-class museums in China, preserving over 70000 pieces of silk cultural relics and showcasing silk cultural legacy. With a commitment to safeguarding global, national, provincial, and municipal intangible cultural heritage, the museum is committed to inherit such as the "Suzhou Lampas(Jin-silk) Weaving Technique," "Patterned Velvet Weaving Technique," "Handmade Cheongsam," and "Ancient Loom Making Technique," ensuring the perpetuation of exquisite silk culture.