Characters in Story of Yanxi Palace wear velvet flowers created by Zhao Shuxian. [Photo/Mtime]

Story of Yanxi Palace online series has swept the internet in less than a month. Set in the Qing Dynasty imperial harem, it tells the story of Wei Yingluo transforming herself from a lady-in-waiting into a royal concubine, mother of the future emperor.

Many viewers praised the story, because unlike the usual amicable heroines, Wei fights fire with fire and outmaneuvers her opponents.

Apart from the story, they also lauded the costume design. Based on historical documents or antiques housed in the Palace Museum, each adornment is created according to the preferences of concubines.

Velvet flower headwear is frequently used by the main characters, especially by Empress Fucha and the heroine Wei Yingluo. It is said in Manuscript of Qing Dynasty History that the empress practiced frugality and loved velvet flowers without pearls or jade.

Characters in Story of Yanxi Palace wear velvet flowers created by Zhao Shuxian. [Photo/Mtime]

The art of making velvet flower, or ronghua, dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It refers to the creation of not only floral displays, but also animal shapes made by silk on a twisted wire frame.

Zhao Shuxian, one of the few craftsmen still making velvet flowers, created all the headwear in the show. Born and raised in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, Zhao began his career as a ronghua creator at a State-owned factory more than 40 years ago when he was 19.

Now thanks to this hit online drama, this intangible cultural heritage has once again grabbed the spotlight.