It usually takes 72 procedures to make the 1,000-year-old mulberry paper. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

High quality mulberry barks need to go through 72 procedures before becoming pieces of 1,000-year-old mulberry paper, according to Li Qingliang, the 21st generation of inheritor of Li family mulberry paper in Linyi, Shandong province.

These 72 procedures mainly include soaking in mountain spring water, steaming, smashing, pulping and dying in the open air.

The mulberry paper features fine fiber, clear texture, good flexibility, strong water absorption, and corrosion resistance.

According to Li, as long as they are properly kept, the absolutely dried mulberry paper would not fade in a thousand years.

Mulberry paper making master in Linyi cuts the mulberry bark to prepare for pulping. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]