Chinese printing hub turns a new leaf

Ma Li brushes a layer of ink on a woodblock engraved with 324 Chinese characters, before spreading a sheet of paper over it and rubbing it with a dry brush.

The 32-year-old is working on a reproduction of the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, a piece of Chinese calligraphy produced almost 2,000 years ago by renowned calligrapher Wang Xizhi.

"I'm trying to use traditional printing techniques and materials to reproduce the charm of Chinese calligraphy," he said. "I've sold more than 5,000 copies this year."