Gui Huanlan is one of the several people that know the whole process to make a Chinese brush in Kunming City in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, and she has devoted herself to this for 70 years.

The 88-year-old woman Gui Huanlan sits in her store, Zhang Xuecheng Chinese Brush Store. [Xinhua/Nian Xinhong]

Zhang Xuecheng Chinese Brush Store, which used to be a big company set up in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), is now a small store of just over 10 square meters on Xi’an Road. [Xinhua/Nian Xinhong]

There are over 80 different kinds of Chinese brushes that have been made for several decades on the steps of this small shop. [Xinhua/Nian Xinhong]

Gui makes Chinese brushes as usual in her store. [Xinhua/Nian Xinhong]

Zhang Yaoren, Gui’s second son who is responsible for purchasing materials for making brushes after his retirement, helps his mother in the store. [Xinhua/Nian Xinhong] 

The brushes in the store are the best as they are the products of high quality materials and outstanding skills and patience. [Xinhua/Nian Xinhong]

Zhang Chongshan, Gui’s third son, helps his mother deal with the processing of the whole brush and the core competitiveness of their brushes after his retirement. [Xinhua/Nian Xinhong]

Zhang Chongshan deals with the brush heads, which could cause great damage to one’s eyes. [Xinhua/Nian Xinhong]

Gui’s eldest son is responsible for the inscription on the brushes. [Xinhua/Nian Xinhong]

Gui inspects each brush before putting them on the shelves for sale. [Xinhua/Nian Xinhong]