Duanyan Stone is produced in Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province. Zhaoqing was called Duanzhou in ancient times, so the inkstone produced was called Duanyan. It was first produced in Wude period of Tang Dynasty (618 -626) and has a history of more than 1,3 years. The inkstone in Duanyan is the topmost one with a blue stone color and a round turquoise stone eye. Zhaoqing Qixingyan produces pure white inkstone, which is as smooth as jade and silent in grinding ink, and it is also a top grade. A good Guangdong ink stone is not only beautiful, but also "inky", and the ink color is as bright as paint, and it can be dried for a relatively long time.
The craftsmanship of Duanyan is a national intangible cultural heritage.