"I suddenly felt that carpet had a life of its own," he says. This realization led him to join the industry.

Qadirdin now runs social media accounts on Douyin and Xiaohongshu, using beautiful images and explanatory videos to raise awareness about Hotan's handmade carpet.

He highlights the advantages of handmade carpets and teaches viewers how to distinguish between machine-made and handwoven pieces.

"I hope that when people think of Hotan, they not only think of the renowned Hotan jade but also of its carpets," he says.

Contact the writers at xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn