Jianshui purple pottery, counted among China's four famous potteries, is made from the area's iron-rich local clay, carved with calligraphy or painting, inlaid with clay of another color, fired without glaze and polished by hand until it gleams like stone; Yunnan's classic steam pot comes from here.
- Good for:
- Makers, families, anyone on the southeast route through Jianshui and Yuanyang
In a studio you can try carving and inlay, or model a tile cat, the wide-mouthed, fierce-faced guardian that Yunnan households set on their roof ridges to ward off bad luck.
Etiquette and what to know
Your piece has to dry and be fired, which takes days. Studios can ship within China, but sending pottery abroad is slow and risky, so buying a finished piece may be the easier souvenir.
