Her studio in Suzhou is full of her work. Flowers, cats, butterflies, figurines of Buddhist deities and scenes from nature become vivid and real on silk fabric. Viewers can even make out a single strand of a cat's fur. A single silk thread can be split into 16 or more strands, which in most cases are too thin to be seen. The studio provides magnifying glasses for visitors to better appreciate the details of Zou's work.

"Su embroidery has enchanted me for decades. I can work for days without sleep to make a fine piece," says Zou.