Fujian town keeps woodblock printing alive

Sibao town in Liancheng county of Fujian province is famous for the preservation of traditional Chinese woodblock printing.

With a history of more than 1,000 years, woodblock printing was adopted by ancient Chinese as a way to keep written records. The process is very complicated, including painting, engraving and printing. The Sibao woodblock printing technique was enlisted as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

"In its heyday, books printed in Sibao were sold around the country, and to Southeast Asian countries," inheritor Ma Li said.

The town now has 50 ancient bookshops and many cultural relics. It also invited tourists and students to learn from artisans.