Red Star Xuan Paper wows at 4th International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Red Star Xuan Paper (Shuen Paper) from Anhui province received much attention at the 4th International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, which concluded on June 23.

The nine-day festival, which was the largest by scale since the event was first launched, attracted exhibitors from 107 countries and districts and 300 experts and scholars from home and abroad.

Visitors had the opportunity to view over 1000 Intangible Cultural Heritage items and to attend over 300 events in nine categories.

Xuan paper is the most popular paper in China among calligraphers and brush painters. The famous brand of 'Red Star' Xuan paper originated in Jingxian county, Anhui province, and was named a 'China Time-honored Brand' in 2006. It was included in the first list of China Intangible Cultural Heritage items. It enjoys a reputation as a long-lasting paper and a national treasure due to its superior quality.

Xuan paper is soft in texture but strong and durable with a high saturation capacity, and is perfectly suited for Chinese calligraphy and painting. Xuan paper, writing brushes, ink sticks and ink slabs are known as a scholar's 'four jewels'.

By Huang Pei

Edited by Niva Whyman