The folk embroidery of southern Shanxi Province features popular motifs, such as a peacock spreading its tail, a magpie on the branch of a plum tree, pines and cranes as symbols of long life, two dragons playing with a ball, and a phoenix and a peony.

These embroidery items have varied themes: Some are romantic, some are exaggerative and the others reflect the reality. Vivid and true to life, they are for both practical and ornamental uses.