Following the footprints of tiger culture in a county

Licheng county in Shanxi province, where the ancient Li state of the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) was located, has received widespread attention due to its time-honored culture during the Year of the Tiger.

People of the ancient state worshipped tigers and, despite the vicissitudes of time, that tradition has been kept alive in the county by the 134,000 or so residents that live there today, with Lihou Tiger, also called bulaohu (cloth tiger) in Chinese.

Kristina Radchenko from Russia, who works in nearby Changzhi city, has been curious about the tiger culture in Licheng, and embarked on a trip to the county just before Spring Festival. A local tiger museum was Radchenko's first stop. At its doorstep, she was attracted by a photo of a jade tiger with sharp claws and an open mouth, as if it was hunting.