We layered up with every piece of clothing we had with us. Warmed up besides small coal fires, bought electric hand warmers and long-johns from the local markets, slept under electric blankets and wished we had this dogs coat. Then the sun came out. Snow covered Yunnan under a deep blue sky is something to behold. 
Chinese embroidery has been around for thousands of years, sadly this was banned during the cultural revolution and is now making a slow come back. An apprenticeship at this institute can take 10-15 years to complete and the resulting work is exquisite. These young girls are encouraged to keep working on their skills with the promise of a good share of the profits from the sale of one piece, but in between each sale they survive on the basic shelter provided by the local government. 
