To provide a recording medium enabling outstanding lightfastness of images, outstanding glossiness, surface damage resistance and conveyance of the recording medium, as well as improved waterfastness and the printing density of images and improved ink absorption of the recording medium. A recording medium configured of a substrate, an ink accepting layer provided on the substrate, and a glossy layer serving as a surface layer, provided on the ink accepting layer, wherein the glossy layer is hardened by a zirconium compound and a resin capable of reacting with the zirconium compound and forming a crosslinking structure.