A selection of Huzhou brush pens. Photo provided to China Daily

However, as modernization took place in China, brush pens were replaced firstly by nib pens, then ballpoint pens and now keyboards.

Zhu Yanlin, deputy director of the Huzhou Economic and Information Commission, said the key reason the art of making Huzhou brush pens is in danger of dying is not because fewer people use the brush pens these days.

"It is a very hard learning experience to make brush pens because the techniques are complicated and the working conditions are poor. The profits on brush pens are low so the income of such workers is lower than average," he said.

Shi would not reveal how much she earns a month making brush pens, only saying she earns much less than her peers.

"There are few people of my age choosing this job. If I had a daughter, I would not let her learn this because it is so hard," she said.

Zhu said that in 2008, Huzhou had less than 10 brush pen technicians aged below 40.