Preserving ancient books for present and future

Market potential

With the nation's growing emphasis on cultural heritage preservation, the ancient book restoration industry is experiencing unprecedented opportunities for development.

"The demand comes not only from official organizations like museums and libraries but also from private book collectors," Li explained. "Ancient books are becoming more accessible to the public. Some even search their homes for family heirloom books."

Last October, Li established her own studio, taking on orders from both institutions and individuals, with the workload currently split evenly.

Since February, Li has been posting videos on platforms like Xiaohongshu (RedNote) and Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), hoping to use social media to bring ancient books into the mainstream.

She discovered that videos featuring technical tips and severely damaged books are particularly popular — the former gives viewers the sense that "they can try it themselves", while the latter offers a "healing" experience.

Li noted that most of her followers are young people, reflecting a trend in talent development within the field in recent years.

Since 2017, many universities have begun offering courses in ancient book restoration, marking a shift from the traditional "master-apprentice" model to a more academic approach.

To Li, ancient book restoration is not just about extending the life of paper but also about preserving cultural heritage. Nowadays, clients are restoring not only common books but also genealogy books, land deeds, maps, local chronicles, and other types of documents — ancient books have truly moved from museum displays into everyday homes.

"A book from hundreds of years ago may seem distant, but it can subtly influence our lives. I hope ancient books will become a more common aspect of life, allowing more people to experience them," Li said.