Students at a primary school in Hangzhou had their first class on Tuesday on how to make movable type, an ancient Chinese printing system, reports Global Times.

A student sets character-carved metal blocks in a movable type printing block during a class at the West Lake Primary School in Hangzhou on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

The West Lake Primary School in the capital of Zhejiang Province introduced the movable type course in the new semester. A craftsman specializing in Chinese characters culture was invited to the campus to teach students how to use the ancient printing technology.

Small metal blocks carved with Chinese characters used during a movable type class at the West Lake Primary School in Hangzhou on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

Students attend lectures on the history of movable type along with practical classes on typesetting and printing. They then print their own document using the knowledge that they've learned. One student printed her essay on whether the traditional red envelopes stuffed with money she received during the Lunar New Year belong to her or her parents.

A craftsman specializing in Chinese characters demonstrates how to make a movable type printing at the West Lake Primary School in Hangzhou on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

Known as one of the four great inventions of ancient China, movable type printing was invented by Bi Sheng in the 1040s during the Song dynasty. Individual characters are carved on identical pieces of fine clay or metal and arranged in a printing block to reproduce a document. Bi Sheng's invention is the world's first known system of movable type printing.

A craftsman specializing in Chinese characters demonstrates how to make a movable type printing at the West Lake Primary School in Hangzhou on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

The school said the course is aimed at improving the student's awareness of Chinese characters and their appreciation for Chinese culture.