On May 4th, workers at the Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory in Tunxi, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, were busy airing out and turning over ink sticks to prevent uneven shrinkage and deformation.

Huimo (ink sticks from Huizhou, in Anhui Province), named after its origin in the ancient prefecture of Huizhou, which includes areas like Jixi, Tunxi, and Shexian County, is cherished by scholars and poets for its qualities such as being "hard as jade, silent when ground, as dark as lacquer when used, and capable of preserving its essence for thousands of years."

In 2006, the craft of making Huimo was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage. The production process of Huimo is intricate, typically involving over a dozen steps including mixing with glue, pounding, molding, pressing, airing, trimming, polishing, and gilding.

"The world of ink-making is all in Huizhou." Today, a group of Huimo artisans in Huangshan City continue to uphold the ancient methods of ink-making, ensuring that Huimo continues to shine brightly through its heritage and development.

Source: Anhui Daily