Stemming from the Emperor Jiaqing’s reign during the Qing Dynasty, Xinfan zongbian has endured for more than 200 years. It was recorded in historical documents that Xinfan women’s tradition of “dissecting tender palm leaves into fibers, and weaving them into sandals.” The raw materials of Xinfan zongbian mainly come from mountainous areas of Pengxian, Dayi, Qionglai and Dujiangyan counties. After being combed by row needles, the palm leaves that craftsmen collect each April will be turned into palm fibers, like green noodles. These palm fibers will go though a series of processes - twisting, steaming, bleaching and airing - after which they will become white and soft, material ready to be used. Or they can be partly dyed in multi-colors, like flowery silky ribbons and used as special decorations in palm-fiber-woven objects.

Each summer and autumn marks the peak season of Xinfan zongbian production. The production varies as seasons and demands change, with summer hats and sandals processed in summer and handbags in autumn. Widely known to everyone in the Xinfan area and mastered by many rural women, the skill of Xinfan zongbian is quite complicated in terms of weaving and processing. It takes more than 10 steps to complete one piece of work. Take a summer hat, for example. A skilled craftsman can only complete two summer hats each day, which shows the complexity and delicacy of the craft.

The major products of Xinfan zongbian, including hats, shoes, pillow covers, summer sleeping mats, chair cushions, handbags, fruit bowls, schoolbags and toys, are closely related to people’s daily lives and well received by them. The products woven in plain-color palm fiber, in particular, tend to have an elegant silk-like effect.