While historical records do not credit a specific individual in Chengdu with the invention of wallpaper, the city is deeply tied to the origins of the medium through its status as an ancient center for papermaking and printing. Wallpaper originated in China as early as 200 BC during the Qin dynasty, where rice paper was first used to insulate and decorate walls. Chengdu specifically became a vital hub for these technologies; some historians suggest that block printing was invented there, and the city famously produced the world's first paper money, the Jiaozi. By the 12th century, Chinese artisans were using linen fibers to create more durable surfaces for intricate hand-painted landscapes and scenic stories. While "wallpaper" as a standardized export product was later refined in places like Guangzhou for European markets in the 17th and 18th centuries, the foundational technologies of paper production and decorative printing that made it possible are rooted in the innovative history of Chengdu and the broader Sichuan region.