Toufiq Zaman admires the paper-crafted items in Taizhou Hongda Printing Co Ltd. [Photo/Tide News]

At a workshop of Taizhou Hongda Printing Co Ltd in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, the steady rhythm of machines cutting and pressing paper filled the space with a strong industrial atmosphere on Aug 21. 

During his visit, Toufiq Zaman from Bangladesh — known by his Chinese name Zhang Fuhai and a participant in Taizhou's cultural envoy program — was struck by the speed and precision of the automated production line. Each cultural and creative paper product can be completed in about one minute.

In the company's cultural products display area, paper-made items such as sculpted lamps, decorative gourds, and models of beetles surprised visitors with their lifelike curves and textures. Holding a paper-crafted insect, Toufiq Zaman expressed amazement that such a fragile material could be shaped into solid, three-dimensional designs.

He later joined a hands-on session, assembling a gourd from a DIY paper kit. Initially cautious, he soon grew more confident with guidance, carefully layering pieces until the final product took shape. Holding it against the light, he remarked that the paper, usually rigid and plain, had been transformed into something full of vitality.

The experience highlighted how Taizhou's printing industry blends efficiency with creativity. While advanced machinery delivers productivity, paper art preserves craftsmanship and cultural significance.

Toufiq Zaman's visit, meanwhile, offered an opportunity to share this unique "magic of paper" with international audiences.