"Cultural paper" refers to paper used for writing and printing to disseminate cultural knowledge; the term distinguishes it from other types of paper used in daily life. Serving as a vital medium for information transfer, knowledge dissemination, and cultural heritage preservation, cultural paper is primarily categorized into three types: uncoated printing and writing paper, coated printing paper, and newsprint. Specific examples include art paper (coated paper), offset paper (wood-free uncoated paper), writing paper, lightweight coated paper, and newsprint. By 2025, eye-care paper designed to reduce harmful light reflection-such as the "Shutong" soft-light paper launched by Yueyang Forest & Paper-had appeared on the market. Offset paper, a key medium for writing and printing, is a quintessential example of cultural paper; it accounts for approximately 40% of domestic cultural paper consumption and is widely used in books, textbooks, magazines, notebooks, and color imagery. The vast majority of offset paper on the market is double-sided offset paper (often referred to simply as "offset paper" or "wood-free paper"). Based on basis weight (grammage), offset paper can be classified into standard paper (60–90 g/m²), lightweight paper (25–40 g/m²), and heavy-weight paper (≥140 g/m²).

In 2025, the Shanghai Futures Exchange launched the world's first financial derivatives for cultural paper-offset paper futures and options. This move reflects the status of offset paper as a representative cultural paper product in my country, characterized by significant market volume, a high degree of standardization, and notable price volatility. For instance, the "Yueyang Tower" brand of offset paper produced by Yueyang Forest & Paper was included in the list of deliverable products for offset paper futures in 2025. In 2024, my country's offset paper production reached 9.48 million tonnes, with an apparent consumption of 8.71 million tonnes.

When selecting cultural paper, parameters such as basis weight, whiteness, and smoothness must be considered based on the intended use. For example, book interiors typically utilize 70–80 g/m² offset paper, whereas covers may require heavier art paper (coated paper). Additionally, proper storage-avoiding moisture and direct sunlight-is essential to extend the paper's service life.