Zhen Fenlan (stood, third from right), an entrepreneur from Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, poses for a photo with her group members and local residents in Naqu city in Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/hangzhou.zjol.com.cn]

"A lot of women in Naqu city in Tibet autonomous region do weaving to support themselves, but they lack proper equipment and have difficulties selling their products," said Zhen Fenlan, chief executive of Zhejiang Xiaoxiang Sanxun Culture Creation Development Co, explaining why she launched a program to teach weaving skills to local residents and help with local alleviation-poverty efforts in the city.

With the support of the Zhejiang Tibet-support department and the Zhejiang Maritime Fishery and Ship Trading Service Center, the weaving-teaching workshop operated by Zhen was officially launched in Naqu on July 25.

"We should do our best to help them find jobs and earn money," said Zhen.

Zhen was recognized as an inheritor of Zhejiang homespun weaving skills, which were included in the fourth group of Zhejiang intangible cultural heritage items.

Zhen Fenlan (seated), teaches weaving to local residents in Naqu city in Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/hangzhou.zjol.com.cn]　

A 10-member group led by Zhen departed from Hangzhou on July 17 and arrived in Naqu on July 22, bringing with them 50 looms.

"The biggest challenge for us is the altitude in Naqu," Zhen said, "we feel dizzy every time we stand up after squatting."

"But we have to repeat the squatting-to-stand motion dozens of times to assemble a loom," she added, "It took us three days to finish assembling the 50 machines."

In addition to the machines, Zhen's group also offered weaving training to over 100 local females from 25 towns in Naqu.

Zhen also built a homestay themed around Naqu folk customs in Yuhang district, Hangzhou, where people in the Yangtze River Delta region can buy local handicrafts and agricultural products from Naqu.

Zhen said that all the efforts are aimed at helping local residents in Naqu increase their income.