Rug weaving in China goes back to the 2nd century AD and the Ming Emperors decorated rooms in the Forbidden City palaces with thick, coarse carpets in dramatic designs. Antique Chinese rugs woven in Ningxia go back to the 17th century. Rugs for the western market started to be produced towards the end of the 19th century. There are numerous production centers including Peking (Beijing), Ningxia, Tientsin (Tianjin), Bao Tou and various cities in Xinjiang Province. Colors: blues/copper brown/golds/white