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Hui ink sticks are mainly crafted in east China's Anhui Province, hence earning the moniker "Hui" ink as the region was originally under the jurisdiction of Huizhou in ancient China. As the Year of the Horse approaches, delicate horse-themed Hui ink sticks breathe new life into the millennium-old ink-making craftsmanship.

A crafter paints Hui ink sticks inspired by the Chinese zodiac Year of the Horse at an ink workshop in Shexian County, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Photo by Shi Yalei/Xinhua)