The Huangshan She County Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory is a nationally renowned “time-honored” brand, established in 1782 and with a history of over 200 years. Located next to the former residence of the great literary figure Hu Shi, Hu Kaiwen Ink Stick Factory not only continues the excellent tradition of the old Hu Kaiwen’s pure handcrafted ink-making techniques but also gathers top ink-making craftsmen from the Hu Kaiwen tradition to continuously innovate.
Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory Facts
- Type: Historical Site, Factory
- Recommended Visiting Time:1-2 hour
- Opening Time: 8:00 – 17:00
- Best Timeto Visit: All Seasons
- Tickets: Free (150RMB for ink-making activity)
- Address: 5 Tiger Mountain, Tunxi District, Huangshan City
About Hui Ink-stick
Huizhou Ink is one of the “Four Treasures of the Study.” Named after its origin in the ancient Huizhou Prefecture, Huizhou Ink is now primarily manufactured in Tunxi District and She County of Huangshan City.
Huizhou Ink comes in a wide variety of types, including lacquer smoke, oil smoke, pine smoke, full smoke, pure smoke, reduced glue, and scented ink. The ink molds are intricately carved by skilled craftsmen with famous people’s calligraphy and paintings, integrating painting, calligraphy, carving, and modeling into a comprehensive artistic treasure. Huizhou Ink also has a wide range of applications in industrial drawing, decorative arts, printing, medicine, and porcelain painting.
What to Know about Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory
History of Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory
Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory has a history of over 200 years since its founding in the 30th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1765) by Hu Tianzhu from Huizhou. In 1910, Hu Kaiwen Ink won a gold medal at the Nanyang Industrial Exposition. In 1915, the “Earth Ink” produced by the factory was exhibited at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, where it also received a gold medal.
The predecessor of Hu Kaiwen Inkstick Factory in Huangshan is the “Original Hu Kaiwen Old Shop”. It was formed through the joint public and private partnership of various Hu Kaiwen ink shops, brands, and workshops in Huizhou. It has concentrated all the technical equipment and family recipes for making Huizhou ink by famous masters and possesses over 7,800 precious ink molds carved by renowned artists from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present.
Recommended Huangshan Tours with Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory
- 4 Days Classic Huangshan Tour from Shanghai by High-speed Train
- 4 Days Huangshan Tour with Hongcun and Xidi Villages
Value of Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory
The Hu Kaiwen series of products made in Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory are known for strict selection of materials, exquisite craftsmanship, and superior technology. They are made from pure soot, natural musk, and 16 other precious medicinal materials. These inks embody excellent national traditions and unique artistic styles.
In 1998, Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory developed a pure soot Hu Kaiwen series, including “Hu Kaiwen Soot Ink,” “Hu Kaiwen Treasure Ink,” “Hu Kaiwen Calligraphy and Painting Ink,” and others. All these have elevated Huizhou ink to an unprecedented level of quality. These products have significant value for collection, art appreciation, and practical use. During a Huangshan travel, visiting the Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory in Tunxi and personally participating in the ink-making process is an excellent way to gain a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture.
What to Do in Hu Kaiwen Ink Stick Factory
Inkstick Making
There are totally four steps for ink-making:
- Hammering Ink: Using a square hammer weighing 6-8 kilograms, the ink maker repeatedly flips and strikes the ink dough. The more times it is hammered, the better. The longer the ink dough is hammered, the finer its texture becomes.
- Kneading Ink Fruits: On a constant-temperature board, the ink dough is kneaded, similar to the process of kneading dough. By applying force through rubbing, pressing, and pushing with hands, the dough is eventually shaped into an ink fruit resembling an ink tablet. The ink fruit should have no visible seams, be uniformly thick, and have no fingerprints or wrinkles.
- Molding: The kneaded ink fruit is embedded into an ink mold. After the ink fruit is placed in the mold, it is pressed flat either by the weight of the craftsman sitting on a lever or by using a simple mechanical press. The pressed ink block becomes flatter and more uniform.
- Demolding:After the pressed mold cools and sets, it is demolded. This involves carefully removing the ink tablet from the mold. The gesture must be gentle to prevent the ink tablet from chipping or warping.
Gilding Experience
For gilding, the first thing to do is mixing glue with high-grade Chinese painting pigments, copper gold powder, silver powder, etc. Then, various patterns such as text, flowers, figures, landscapes, birds and beasts, pavilions, and mountains and streams will be outlined on ink tablets of different specifications, and names. This process enhances the ink tablet with vivid colors, achieving an effect that is lifelike, elegant, and aesthetically pleasing.
How to Get to Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory
Visiting the Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory during a Huangshan tour is quite meaningful and convenient. Located in the downtown area of Huangshan City, it is just a short 10-minute walk (about 600 meters) from the famous Tunxi Ancient Street. Whether you are staying in a hotel in the city center of Huangshan, you can easily reach the factory on foot.
For those arriving by air, Hu Kaiwen Ink factory is about 5 kilometers (a 20-minute drive) from Huangshan Tunxi Airport. If you are coming by train, it is 14 kilometers (about a 40-minute drive) from Huangshan North Railway Station. And if you are visiting from the Mount Huang Scenic Area, it is approximately 60 kilometers away, which will take around 50 minutes by car.
Nearby Attraction
- Huizhou Ancient City:Also known as She County Ancient City and historically called Xin’an Prefecture, Huizhou Ancient City is a national historical and cultural city.
- Yuliang Dam: The Dam is located upstream of the Xin’an River, known as the “First Dujiangyan in Jiangnan”. It is a famous ancient water conservancy project in Huizhou.
- Tangyue Archway Group: A representative collection of archways in the Huizhou area, grand in scale and exquisite in carving.
