Breath of fresh air for a 'living fossil'

Updated: 2015-09-07 09:19

By Bi Nan(chinadaily.com.cn)

Tursunbaher Tohtibahi stands in front of a pool for making mulberry paper. [Photo by Qin Fengjing/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

How has it evolved?

According to historical records, the technique dates back to the Tang Dynasty. Relics have shown that mulberry paper was widely used in Xinjiang. Since the 1980s, industrialization of papermaking has changed and traditional techniques have faded out and many craftsmen have left the industry.

Things began to change in 2006 when the handicraft was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage and the "living fossil" was revived and began to be passed down.