Tongguan: Global Icon of Ceramic Art

Ancient Tongguan: Where Colorful Stoneware Was Born

Perched along the Xiang River, ancient Tongguan is globally recognized as the birthplace of underglaze polychrome ceramics and a starting point of the Ceramic Silk Road. Over 1,300 years ago, the kilns of Tongguan in Changsha pioneered techniques that shaped the golden age of Tang dynasty ceramics, including underglaze polychrome painting, copper-red glaze, and stamped appliqué decoration. Tongguan was also the first to inscribe Chinese poetry onto porcelain, setting a cultural precedent still admired today. During the Tang dynasty—when China stood as the world’s most prosperous civilization—Tongguan’s ceramic wares were exported to more than 20 countries and regions, leaving an indelible mark on global ceramic history.

Wander the ancient alleys of Tongguan Old Street, lined with traditional buildings and generations of potters who still live and work in the same spaces—shopfronts at the entrance, kilns in the courtyards behind. Some families operate their own ceramic studios or factories, while others offer hands-on workshops and artist residencies for visitors.

Nearby, the Tongguan National Style Park recreates the era of the ceramic trade, featuring a full-scale Tang dynasty merchant ship and immersive cultural experiences. The Tongguan Kiln Museum houses exhibitions and the world’s best-preserved Tang dynasty dragon kiln—a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship of a bygone empire.

Today, while ancient pottery traditions continue to thrive, Tongguan also looks to the future. The area is home to cutting-edge clusters in advanced materials and biomedical industries, where heritage and innovation converge by the water’s edge.