No. 69 Hongguang Avenue,

Banan District

Chongqing, China
Dear Martin,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. Well, I am now travelling in China nowadays. The primitive printing technology was founded in China along with the rubbing papers on which the Chinese books are printed. Both sides of the permeable and thin sheet that is invented against the woodblock-inked surface couldn't be printed, so the accordian book is folded and stitched at the side. This sheet is used by merchants in everyday life to collect trade information. Reading is a good activity for spare time. Autobiographies, poetries, fictions, literary masterpiece anthologies, and master plays are what the new audience prefers. Many women have also started publishing their plays and poems, and wealthy women have also begun reading.

New technology accompanied the new reading traditions. In the 19th century, the mechanical presses and the western printed culture were imported as power from the west had established its outposts in China. The new hub for the new print culture is Shangai, which also caters to western-style institutions. One can witness the progressive shift from hand printing to mechanical printing. I am exploring the country and found it an interesting residential place. I will be back soon.

Yours Sincerely,

Marco Polo