Firing poetry into precious porcelain

At the center stands a Tang-style urn, its surface a miniature panorama of the Silk Road.

"At peak times, dozens of tour buses and hundreds of people come daily. That gave me confidence in knowing that tradition is wealth,"Liu says.

His products range from modest teaware to reproduced art, catering to varied needs. He also maintains traditional craftsmanship while developing hands-on experience.

In 2024, his workshop hosted more than 10,000 visitors. "When visitors throw a pot or paint a piece, they take home not just an object, but a memory connected to a thousand years of history," he says.

Unlike Liu, Huang switched from his computer science background into a "tech-artisan" to fulfill his fascination with his hometown's porcelain charm.

He learned from a local porcelain master who warned him that he would not make money for three to five years. "Now, in my 11th year, I'm finally feeling upward momentum."

Six years of training and nine years of entrepreneurship have forged Huang's distinct style.

His "kiln-transformation blue" series creates blue crystalline formations within celadon glaze, sparkling like galaxies under light. More innovative is his functional adaptation of teaware. To better enhance the tea's aroma, his pieces' interiors are often left unglazed.

"Water passing through sand becomes clear, and the unglazed surface is more porous than porcelain, better for releasing the tea's fragrance," he explains.

For many artisans on the old street, the ultimate ambition for Tongguan may not be measured in visitor numbers or revenue.

Liu envisions a landscape where "every studio can showcase its unique culture and artistic concept, presenting the ceramic culture and innovative spirit that Tongguan has accumulated over the years to the outside world".

That will be a place where "those who are truly curious or passionate about ceramics can visit 10 studios and have 10 different stylistic experiences".