Jingxian County features four distinct seasons, with unique characteristics: spring arrives late, autumn comes early, and summer and winter last longer. The annual frost-free period lasts approximately 250 days, and the region is abundant in sunlight resources. These conditions prevent the raw materials for rice paper from weathering, rotting, or deteriorating due to intense sunlight, heavy rain, or severe frost. Additionally, the temperature in Jingxian County exhibits obvious vertical variations and regional differences, providing superior climatic conditions for rice paper production.
Pteroceltis trees have strong sprouting ability. Their branch bark is rich in fibers, and the stem bark is of high quality—soft, tough, and easy to peel. Thus, it serves as an excellent raw material for making rice paper. Most of the mountains in Jingxian County are karst mountains, which are suitable for the growth of Pteroceltis trees. The Pteroceltis produced here boasts tender bark, uniform and abundant fibers, easy extraction, and a high pulp yield. Moreover, its cell walls have large inner cavities and wrinkled surfaces, which give it strong adsorption capacity. These properties are the main reasons for the excellent ink-wetting performance of rice paper.
Numerous studies have shown that among the pteroceltis bark used in rice paper production, those grown around the 30°N latitude are of the highest quality. The Pteroceltis trees growing in Jingxian County and its surrounding areas are considered the best. |
