Yangtze River Handmade Paper

Yangtze River Handmade Paper

　　Yangtze River handmade paper has long enjoyed a high reputation. In the 31st year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1885), an inscription on the stone tablet commemorating the construction of the Guangzhou Guild Hall noted that “Yangtze River paper is as precious as that of Luoyang.” In May 1987, the *China Cities and Counties Handbook*, edited by Wang Yue and published by Zhejiang Education Publishing House and Zhejiang Xinhua Bookstore, also listed the specialty “Yangtze River handmade paper” from Renhua County. This paper is delicate, resilient, smooth, white in color, and highly absorbent—making it an excellent choice for writing, bookkeeping, hygiene, and food packaging. Varieties include Gongxin, Yuke, Nanke, and straw paper.