A delicate masterpiece

Restricted by the scarcity of raw materials, such as blue sandalwood that is believed to be indigenous to China, the country has been producing a steady amount of 800 tons of Xuan paper every year over the past decade. Up to 80 percent of the paper is made by China Xuan Paper Corporation. It carries the brand Hong Xing, or Red Star.

While most Chinese generally refer to Xuan paper as the material used for calligraphy and ink paintings, natives of Jingxian county view it differently - only those made in the county and from blue sandalwood qualify. They explain that the unique climate and water in the area gives the paper a distinctive flexibility and durability that outshines those made using other materials.

Dubbed as the "King of Paper" because it can last for centuries and is highly resistant against creasing, corrosion and mold, Xuan paper gained its name from its birthplace - Xuanzhou prefecture in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). It first came into being five centuries after China invented paper and was presented as a tribute to the emperor.

Along with writing brushes, ink sticks and ink slabs, it used to be considered one of the four treasures for those who could write. In this digital era, however, Xuan paper has lost its relevance and is now deemed as an artwork and collectible that is as valuable as the paintings and writings on it.

The latest craze for the paper can be traced back to 2009, the year after the Beijing Olympic Games during which a massive scroll of Xuan paper, painted with Chinese mountains in black and white, was featured at the opening ceremony. That same year, the papermaking process was listed as a world intangible culture heritage by UNESCO.

Around 2012 when the craze peaked, a stack of 100 sheets of Xuan paper which weighed about 3 kilograms, transacted at 3,000 yuan ($435). Vintage paper, considered those that are more than five years old, could be auctioned at 15,000 yuan, pricier than gold of the same weight.

Like most collectibles, the craze waned after 2013 when the nation introduced a strict anti-corruption campaign that banned any forms of luxury banqueting and gifting.