Mooncake-shaped Hui ink sticks add creative touch to Mid-Autumn Festival in east China

A craftswoman airs mooncake-shaped Hui ink sticks at an ink workshop in Shexian County, Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 9, 2026.

The Hui ink sticks are primarily composed of the soot produced by burning pine trees or tung oil, with glue as the main ingredient, supplemented by various minerals and Chinese herbal ingredients in the formulation. It undergoes a meticulous crafting process involving dozens of steps.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, local ink-making craftsmen shaped ink sticks into mooncake forms, giving the ancient craft a trendy way to greet the festival. (Photo by Shi Yalei/Xinhua)

A craftswoman makes a mooncake-shaped Hui ink stick at an ink workshop in Shexian County, Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 9, 2026.

The Hui ink sticks are primarily composed of the soot produced by burning pine trees or tung oil, with glue as the main ingredient, supplemented by various minerals and Chinese herbal ingredients in the formulation. It undergoes a meticulous crafting process involving dozens of steps.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, local ink-making craftsmen shaped ink sticks into mooncake forms, giving the ancient craft a trendy way to greet the festival. (Photo by Shi Yalei/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Sept. 9, 2026 shows finished mooncake-shaped Hui ink sticks made at an ink workshop in Shexian County, Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province.

The Hui ink sticks are primarily composed of the soot produced by burning pine trees or tung oil, with glue as the main ingredient, supplemented by various minerals and Chinese herbal ingredients in the formulation. It undergoes a meticulous crafting process involving dozens of steps.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, local ink-making craftsmen shaped ink sticks into mooncake forms, giving the ancient craft a trendy way to greet the festival. (Photo by Shi Yalei/Xinhua)

A craftsman makes a mooncake-shaped Hui ink stick at an ink workshop in Shexian County, Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 9, 2026.

The Hui ink sticks are primarily composed of the soot produced by burning pine trees or tung oil, with glue as the main ingredient, supplemented by various minerals and Chinese herbal ingredients in the formulation. It undergoes a meticulous crafting process involving dozens of steps.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, local ink-making craftsmen shaped ink sticks into mooncake forms, giving the ancient craft a trendy way to greet the festival. (Photo by Shi Yalei/Xinhua)

A craftsman makes a mooncake-shaped Hui ink stick at an ink workshop in Shexian County, Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 9, 2026.

The Hui ink sticks are primarily composed of the soot produced by burning pine trees or tung oil, with glue as the main ingredient, supplemented by various minerals and Chinese herbal ingredients in the formulation. It undergoes a meticulous crafting process involving dozens of steps.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, local ink-making craftsmen shaped ink sticks into mooncake forms, giving the ancient craft a trendy way to greet the festival. (Photo by Shi Yalei/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Sept. 9, 2026 shows finished mooncake-shaped Hui ink sticks made at an ink workshop in Shexian County, Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province.

The Hui ink sticks are primarily composed of the soot produced by burning pine trees or tung oil, with glue as the main ingredient, supplemented by various minerals and Chinese herbal ingredients in the formulation. It undergoes a meticulous crafting process involving dozens of steps.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, local ink-making craftsmen shaped ink sticks into mooncake forms, giving the ancient craft a trendy way to greet the festival. (Photo by Shi Yalei/Xinhua)