Rug with foliate designs flanking a medallion of dragons

One of the five regional styles of traditional Chinese rugs (Ningxia, Xinjiang, Tibet, Mongol, and Beijing), the Ningxia carpets are known for their exceptional quality, using handwoven wool from sheep native to Ningxia and Alxa. Because of their elegant designs and distinctive blue and yellow colors, Ningxia rugs were highly valued by Manchu rulers and soon became favorite gifts among the aristocrats and major tribute items of local governments after 1700. Many Tibetan Buddhist monasteries also employed Ningxia-style floor carpets, column hangings, and wall banners in decorating and furnishing the interiors. The unique aesthetic and symmetrical designs of auspicious motifs, which present a sense of stability and tranquility, made Ningxia rugs and their decorative styles popular in northern China from the middle Qing dynasty forward.