The last mulberry paper maker in Hetian

The Silk Road brought papermaking from inland to Hetian, Uigur, a remote borderland in the northwest China. For many centuries mulberry paper, a type of rice paper made from inner bark of mulberry, was extensively used in local textbook, archives and government document.

With great changes in the 20th century, the old-fashioned craft begin to disappear. There used to be a street in Hetian lined with paper mills; however, none of them has survived today. In 2002 more than 80% mulberry trees were felled for pomiculture. Among very few who know how is an old man whose name is Tohutibak.

		Tohutibak and his wife pill the bark of mulberry branches. Only light inner bark is used for pulping.
		The bark is boiled in poplar earth soda solution for two hours. The softened bark fiber is then beaten into mushy pulp by a mallet.
		The pulp is poured into a mould by a gourd ladle.