The sheepskin raft (羊皮筏), the oldest ferry tool along the Yellow River in Northwest China, boasts a history of nearly 2,000 years. The airbag of the raft is made of a whole sheepskin and undergoes many processes including heating (remove) hair, soaking in salt y oil, sewing, drying and blowing. Then the airbags are fastened to a wooden stand, enabling its use for transporting people and goods the water.
It is said that the largest sheepskin raft in old times (consist) of more than 600 sheepskin airbags, will an impressive length of 22 meters and a (wide) of 7 meters. It was capable of carrying around 30 tons of goods and drifting over 200 kilometers in one day.
In the early 20th century, before the1950s, railways were not yet in operation and road traffic was (convenient), the sheepskin raft served as the most important means of transportation for residents (live) along the Yellow River.
However, with the rapid development of society, the sheepskin raft has (large) fulfilled its historical role in transporting people and goods. Nowadays, it can only _(find) along the banks of the Yellow River in some cities in Gansu province. It has become tool for people to ferry on the Yellow River for sightseeing and leisure.
