Editor’s Note: This article is produced in collaboration with the Chongqing Institute of Foreign Studies as part of an ongoing series exploring the city’s abundant resources in intangible cultural heritage.
Rongchang Antao, a unique type of pottery, has a heritage spanning over eight centuries.
Pottery, once a functional necessity in ancient times and now an artistic treasure, continues to play a meaningful role in daily life. While it primarily served as containers in antiquity—with occasional decorative uses—it has since evolved into a cherished collectible art form for modern connoisseurs. Rongchang Antao, a unique regional craft, has endured for over eight hundred years. It flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties, reached its peak in the 1970s, and was exported around the world.
Specializing in both utilitarian and artistic ceramics, Rongchang pottery is known as the “Clay Essence” for the remarkable viscosity and plasticity of its local clay. This distinctive material produces airtight and durable containers praised for their excellent preservation qualities. Folk rhymes such as “Five-mile Anfuchang market, finest clayware stands in rows,” and “Ore hills before, coal hills behind, kilns crafting pots in between,” vividly capture its historic prosperity. Traditionally, Rongchang’s Antao was ranked among China’s “Four Great Potteries,” alongside Yixing Purple Clay (Jiangsu), Qinzhou Nixing (Guangxi), and Jianshui Pottery (Yunnan). In 2011, the craftsmanship of Rongchang pottery was inscribed on China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Even before stepping onto Anfu’s main street, one can feel the strong atmosphere of this pottery capital. Rongchang Antao fills every sightline. Semi-finished pieces line the roadside, creating a striking visual effect. Walking through the streets, you’ll see walls adorned with exquisite pottery-themed paintings—so detailed that you may feel as if you’ve stepped into a piece of pottery yourself. As you enter the old town, the spirit of Antao grows even stronger, as though you’ve traveled back to its golden age. Even the small market stalls display charming clay trinkets—lively and full of character. The Antao pieces sold in shops are equally beautiful, yet compared to the street stalls, what impresses most is the craftsmanship found in every tiny detail. You can almost feel the affection and care artisans pour into each piece.
The charm of Rongchang Antao also lies in the devotion people hold for this clay. Every piece carries the artisans’ hopes—to be admired by others, to be known by the world, and to be cherished as the creation of their hearts. This emotional commitment not only preserves and passes down Antao culture but also reflects people’s pursuit of a brighter future.
Here, one can sense the timeless vitality of Antao and the profound cultural heritage it embodies. Across the centuries, it continues to radiate beauty and color. As time flows on, people work to let it shine in new ways. As Confucius observed, “Orchids fragrance the forest, unseen yet ever fragrant.” Likewise, when you truly seek to understand Antao, it reveals its beauty without reservation; and even if you do not, it seems to say, “It’s fine — your appreciative glance is already my meaning of existence.”
Today, Rongchang Antao continues to thrive. Its success at this year’s China International Fine Ceramics Exhibition marks another milestone in its ongoing revival. Rooted in heritage yet open to innovation, this living tradition continues to carve its distinctive path—where every kiln-fired creation becomes a timeless dialogue between past and future.
Chinese script: Zhou Houyu
Tutored by: Li Fei
Translation: Long YinYu
Tutored by: Wei Jingjun, Tu Qingqing
Voice-over: Luo Ying