Guests from the third edition of the Journey of ASEAN Young Writers in China program visited Shanlian town in Nanxun district, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sept 20 to learn about the traditional craft of making Huzhou writing brushes.

The group toured the Shanlian Huzhou Writing Brush Factory and the Huzhou Writing Brush Culture Museum, where they observed key production steps and learned about the history of the brush, which stretches back more than 2,000 years.

Shanlian is regarded as the birthplace of the Huzhou writing brush. The Huzhou writing brush, Hui ink, Xuan paper, and Duan inkstone are traditionally known as China's "four treasures of the study". The craft of making Huzhou writing brushes was recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage item in 2006.

A participant practices calligraphy with a Huzhou writing brush. [Photo/Tide News]

Under the guidance of a provincial-level inheritor, the visiting writers tried sorting brush hairs, one of the most delicate steps in making the writing brush. They also used finished brushes to practice calligraphy.

A Malaysian poet and essayist who began learning calligraphy at age 10 said it was her first time seeing how a writing brush is made from start to finish.

A Lao writer later used a Huzhou writing brush to write "Hello, China" in Lao, while other participants gathered for a group photo beside a giant writing brush at the museum.