In pics: Huizhou inkstick in Anhui

Xiang Desheng, an inheritor of Huizhou inkstick making technique, collects soot, the main ingredient in the making of inksticks, at a workshop in Shexian County, east China's Anhui Province, May 21, 2020. Inkstick is widely used in traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. Produced in solid form rather than liquid, it lasts for generations without drying out. Along with ink brush, inkstone and paper, inkstick is one of the "Four Treasures of Study" in traditional Chinese culture. The Huizhou inkstick is a highly regarded inkstick and gets its name from the historical Huizhou region, largely in what is now Anhui Province. Due to the complexity of its making and the exquisite decorations applied to it, the Huizhou inkstick is often considered a piece of art itself. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)