Day 3- Silk and Pearls

The next stop was the silk factory where we learned how a moth lays eggs that turn into silk worms and how the silk worm then produces raw silk.  Shu and Jie were very intrigued by the demonstration and had lots of questions!  The production of silk originated in China and remained confined to China until the silk road opened.  For more than 2000 years the Chinese kept the secret of silk altogether to themselves.

Pure silk is very expensive in China.  A queen comforter will cost you over $450.00!

Our next stop was the Pearl store.  Learning about cultivating pearls was just as fascinating.  We did not know that a fresh water oyster at an "Oyster farm" could produce as many as 23 pearls!

This sales girl had fun helping the girls pick out a bracelet to take home!