In Jilin, knitting weaves better life

Led by a city-level inheritor of hand-knitting skills, dozens of female villagers in Shulan, Jilin province, are weaving a better life.

Chen Lili, 38, has taught the skills to more than 100 female farmers from nearby villages for free. She also purchases their products and sells them via her trade channels.

Together with her students, Chen has created hundreds of knitted products, including flowers, dolls, headwear and decorative paintings over the past two years.

Their products are popular with customers across the country, as well as overseas, including the United States, Australia, South Korea and Japan.

"I really like knitting," said student Chen Lei. "I can earn more than 2,000 yuan ($289) every month from my products, which greatly improves my family's life."