Pingxi Indigo Dyeing Workshop

When early settlers arrived in Pingxi, they were unaware of the rich 'black gold' (coal) hidden beneath their feet. Their daily lives relied on cultivating rice and sweet potatoes for food. Their source of income came from growing 'Da Jing' (Chinese indigo) plants, processing them into indigo dye, and selling it to mainland China. 'Da Jing' is commonly known as 'Ma Lan' (*Strobilanthes cusia*), a perennial plant of the Acanthaceae family. It is popularly called 'Mountain Indigo' (山藍) because it is often cultivated in mountainous areas, and also referred to as 'Great Green' (大青) because its primary use is as a dye for blue cloth. It blooms from November to February of the following year, bearing purple flowers, and thrives in warm and humid conditions. Pingxi's climate is perfectly suited for the growth of this 'Da Jing' plant.