"The Oroqen have a profound connection with nature, adapting to and even transforming what they find. Their wisdom of living is a type of impetus for our research into ethnic costumes," Gao explains.

Distinctive apparel, such as the Hezhe people's fish-skin garments and the Li people's tree-bark clothing, also demonstrates the adaptability of ethnic groups to their environments.

"In the past, without access to fabrics like cotton, linen, or silk, these groups ingeniously made use of what nature provided, transforming raw materials into wearable art through their wisdom," she adds.

As time progressed, the museum's collection efforts faced increasing challenges.