Young people pleased with porcelain at cut price

As part of the benefits of being a reporter, I got to experience "picking up" cheap porcelain myself.

It was the most fun I have had for a long time because there were just so many different types of cups and bowls all on sale at just several yuan each.

You don't often see such products in Chinese supermarkets because most of the porcelain in Liling, Hunan province, is sold overseas.

Who doesn't like cheap things of high quality, especially when they look fancy and exotic?

Needless to say, I bought many cups and bowls, although I seldom cook and live by myself.

One of the cups I picked up has a cartoon portrait on it of the late United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, someone I have admired for a long time.

As a country with a long history of making porcelain, China has produced countless exquisite porcelain works over the centuries and ceramic products stand as a testament to the enduring creativity and cultural heritage of the Chinese people.

Some ancient, exquisite and beautiful products have been sold at auction for hundreds of millions of yuan.

Meanwhile, artistic porcelain is often seen as being out of touch for many people, and so ceramics for everyday use are limited to specific designs.

You rarely see yellow or red porcelain bowls in Chinese supermarkets. The porcelain cups on the shelves almost all look the same and remind people of things their parents used.

I believe that's why so many young people are going to Liling to buy porcelain. It's cheap, stylish and colorful.

Affordability is key for a city to become a hit travel destination for young people nowadays, just like Zibo in Shandong province for its barbecue, and Tianshui in Gansu province for its malatang (spicy hotpot).

It doesn't cost much to travel to these places, and as young people enjoy a good time there, they are more than willing to give a free shout-out for these places, generating more social media buzz.

Contact the writer at zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn