The invention discloses a drying device applied to producing high-breathability paper products in the papermaking industry. The drying device comprises a circulating fan, a heating device and a drying room which are sequentially connected through a circulating air channel, a cellular circular mesh rotation barrel is arranged inside the drying room, and an air outlet of the cellular circular mesh rotation barrel is connected with an air inlet of the circulating fan through an air sucking drum. A moisture removal air channel which is communicated with the outside and is provided with a control damper is arranged on the circulating air channel between the circulating fan and a combustor. The cellular circular mesh rotation barrel is arranged inside the drying room in the modes that the cellular circular mesh rotation barrel shares the same axis with the air sucking drum and is communicated with the inner cavity of the air sucking drum. The two ends of the cellular circular mesh rotation barrel are combined with a drying room front wallboard and a drying room rear wallboard respectively through connecting pieces. A transmission shaft of the cellular circular mesh rotation barrel is combined with a motor through a speed reducing mechanism. An air inlet of the drying room is formed in the side wall of the drying room which is parallel to the axis of the cellular circular mesh rotation barrel.