Rice Paper

Rice Paper

　　Rice paper (also known as handmade paper or straw paper) has long been one of the three most famous local specialties of Wanzai, with a long production history that peaked during the Qing Dynasty. Made from moso bamboo, rice paper has traditionally been produced entirely by hand, involving labor-intensive processes. Starting in 1973, with government support, semi-mechanized paper mills were established in Xianyuan, Jiaohu, Baishui, and Chixing. By 1985, the annual output of handmade paper reached 320,000 dan (a traditional unit), and by 1990, this figure had dropped to 310 tons, while yellow paper production reached 2,192 tons. After 1995, the national policy to shut down small paper mills led to a decline in machine-made paper output. However, due to market demand, handmade paper production saw a significant rebound. Wanzai’s rice paper is prized for its tender yet tough texture, cleanliness, softness, high tensile strength, and strong water absorption. It has been widely sold in over ten provinces and cities—including Anhui, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Shanghai—and exported to Southeast Asian countries as well as Hong Kong and Macau, earning a longstanding reputation in the market.

　　 Production Starting in 1973, semi-mechanized paper mills were built in Xianyuan, Jiaohu, Baishui, and Chixing, marking the shift from labor-intensive manual production to semi-mechanized processes for rice paper. After 1980, privately owned paper workshops gradually resumed operations. In areas such as Xianyuan, Shuangqiao, Jiaohu, Gaocun, Xikeng, Baishui, and Huangmao, there were more than 700 paper workshops operating year-round or seasonally. In 1985, the output of handmade paper reached 320,000 dan. By the mid-1980s, the practice of burning yellow paper became popular in Fujian, Hubei, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asian countries. As a result, towns such as Chixing, Xianyuan, Jiaohu, Gaocun, Xikeng, and Jiulongmiao invested in building new paper mills to produce yellow paper. In 1986, the output of handmade paper was 148 tons (the measurement unit was changed to tons), and yellow paper output reached 1,230 tons. By 1990, handmade paper output was 310 tons, and yellow paper reached 2,192 tons. After 1995, the national government began shutting down small paper mills, and those in Chixing, Xianyuan, and Xikeng ceased operations due to severe pollution. Remaining mills improved their formulas and reduced output, which allowed handmade paper production to recover quickly. By the end of 2000, handmade paper output had risen to 1,989 tons, although yellow paper output fell to 4,340 tons.

　　 Procurement and Sales After 1985, driven by the growth of the fireworks industry, rice paper experienced a supply shortage, leading to rising prices. To boost production and meet the needs of both civilian and industrial paper users, governments at all levels implemented supportive measures—developing private paper workshops and constructing new mechanized paper mills. In 1986, the county sold 148 tons of handmade paper and 1,230 tons of yellow paper. Thereafter, sales of both types of paper increased year by year, and procurement was no longer handled by unified supply agencies but instead managed by individual producers and private businesses. The products were exported to Southeast Asian countries as well as to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. In 1990, total domestic and international sales reached 310 tons of rice paper and 2,192 tons of yellow paper. By 1995, these figures had dropped to 117 tons of rice paper and 9,713 tons of yellow paper. Between 1996 and 2000, sales of handmade paper grew substantially, with the coastal regions of Fujian being the largest market. By the end of 2000, total domestic and international sales reached 1,989 tons of rice paper and 4,340 tons of yellow paper. Years of accumulated stock were completely cleared out.