Guan Jiaming (L) and his workmate dip a wooden mold into a tank to collect paper pulp at a workshop of Xuan paper in Jingxian County, east China's Anhui Province, Dec. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Xuan paper, a type of handmade paper, was originally produced in ancient China and used for both Chinese calligraphy and paintings. The procedure of making Xuan paper was listed as a world intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2009. Jingxian, a county under Xuancheng City in Anhui Province, is the very place where Xuan paper was invented.

Guan Jiaming, who is in charge of the paper molding process at a workshop of Xuan paper, has proved himself a young master of the traditional papermaking skill. By dipping a wooden mold into the tank to collect paper pulp for several times, Guan can lay the paper pulp condense evenly on the mold with his excellent techniques. Once the pulp-collection is finished, Guan's workmate Wu Fan will take over the rest work such as smoothing and drying.

While accumulating their skill in the work, Guan and Wu also hope to pass down the traditional craft of papermaking to the next generation.