Jinjiang Cizao Welcomes Tourists From All Over the World

JINJIANG, China–(BUSINESS WIRE)–“Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China” is China�s only application as a cultural property on its World Heritage List amid the 44^th session of the World Heritage Committee, consisting of 22 representative historic monuments and sites with surrounding environment and space across Quanzhou, three of which are located in Jinjiang, namely Cizao Kiln (Jinjiaoyi Mountain Kiln), Anping Bridge and Statue of Mani Buddha in Cao’an. Let’s walk into the Cizao Kiln, a commodity producing area for exploration.

Thousands of years ago, there were kilns built from northwest to southeast in the verdant mountains on the banks of the Meixi River in Jinjiang and in the hilly areas of the southern foothills of Zimao Mountain. From the 10th to 14th centuries, kilns were found in Quanzhou. Over 150 ceramic kilns for export have been discovered, with the highest density in China. The Cizao Kiln is the largest group of ancient kiln sites in the suburbs of Quanzhou.

The Jinjiaoyi Mountain Kiln Site is a Song Dynasty kiln site with the largest area, the most well-preserved and unearthed relics of the Cizao Kiln through scientific archaeological excavations. The local materials for ceramics in Cizao are quite rough. However, the increase in the smoothness by adding engobe and decrease in cost by less thorough glazing meet the daily demand for large production, which makes it more widely used in peoples’ daily life than products from other kilns.

Since Cizao Kiln redirected from fulfilling the daily needs of the surrounding cities to portable bottles, it realized the transition from an ordinary “domestic kiln” to an important export-oriented ceramic production base on the southeast coast of China during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, well-known at home and abroad.

Over 800 years ago, a wooden cargo ship loaded with tons of exquisite ceramics departed from Quanzhou Port; when arriving around the Yangjiang waters of Guangdong, it encountered an accident and sank into the sea. This is the world-known “Nanhai No. 1” shipwreck. It is the oldest, largest and most well-preserved ocean-going merchant ship ever discovered in the world, full of exquisite ceramics. According to underwater archaeology and overseas discoveries, the products of Cizao Kiln are scattered in countries along the Maritime Silk Road.

Cizao is ready to welcome tourists from all over the world.

Contacts

People’s Government of Jinjiang

Lisa Wu

lisa_wu916@163.com
http://www.jinjiang.gov.cn/xxgk/gzdt/jjyw/202107/t20210727_2594594.htm