In early August, Pingdingshan citizen Li Tinghuai, Mei Guojian were awarded the title of "Ceramic Design Master of China” by the Society for the Promotion of World Culture under the Ministry of Culture as well as China Building Ceramics Association. Altogether 64 people won the title nationwide.

It is reported that the title represents a national-level honorary title awarded to China's outstanding creative ceramic artists with prominent achievements. The candidates’ works shall meet the following criteria: distinct style of ceramic art; high artistic level and difficult ceramic art; capable of leading the trend in contemporary Chinese ceramic art; a certain number of works with high artistic level and difficult ceramic art; and having greatly influenced contemporary ceramic art.

The appraisal contest lasted for a period of 10 months. Early March 2011 the preliminary assessment was conducted where 13 state-level art masters made up the judging panel, who caste their vote by a secret ballot. In July, more than 2,000 pieces of ceramic works took part in the final assessment, under a secret ballot by another 11 state-level art masters.

Among the first group of typical inheritors of intangible cultural heritage in Henan province, Li Tinghuai has studied and researched Ru porcelain for more than three decades. Mei Guojian, a long-time researcher of Lushan flora-design porcelain, offers specialized courses in ceramics in Pingdingshan College.

Edited by Fu Bo and Tania Lee