STEP 4: The pieces are later trodden. [Photo/ShanghaiDaily.com]

"A piece of good Xuan paper is required to reflect the ink brush’s five features — dry, unsmooth, coal black, thick black and light black," Liu says.

Next comes the drying step, which Xing has been doing for more than 40 years.

"Each worker is equipped with two brushes, one with soft, long hair and the other with short and firm hair," Xing says.

The paper soaked in mountain spring water is stuck and brushed onto a giant wall and warmed with steam. In the past they used firewood and later coal.

"Today we use steam, which is better for workers’ health and also for the environment," he says.

After being double checked, packaged, cut to size and sealed, the paper is finally done.

China Xuan Paper Group is the country’s largest producer. It makes 700 to 800 tons of Xuan paper every year, accounting for about 85 percent of the total. There are another 20 smaller factories making Xuan paper in Jingxian County.