Restorers breathe life into ancient books

LANZHOU — With a pair of tweezers and a brush in hand, Yao Jiadi, who specializes in restoring ancient books, delicately navigated through damaged pages to mend the fragmented gaps.

On her table, pens, brushes, needles and other tools were neatly laid out alongside timeworn works in need of restoration. Some books were as stiff as bricks, while others had pages as thin as cicada wings.

With their unique techniques, restorers substantially extend the lifespan of these cultural treasures. In 2008, restoration techniques for ancient books were listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.