a testament to enduring craftsmanship despite modern alternatives. For more than 40 hours, workers meticulously fed firewood into the kiln, driving temperatures above 1,000 degrees Celsius. The climax comes with the opening of the kiln, revealing thousands of ceramic pieces like "blind boxes," a major local event.

Nestled amidst the rustic village houses of Dingshu Township in Yixing, the Qianshu Dragon Kiln is unmistakable -- a long, black-tiled roof structure snaking up a slope, sheltering an earthen core built from rammed yellow soil. Dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this kiln holds a unique status as the only one in Jiangsu still firing ceramics using traditional wood-burning methods. Measuring 43.4 meters long with a distinct north-south orientation, it comprises a head, a body and a tail, capable of holding roughly 8,000 ceramic pieces per firing.

At precisely 9:58 a.m. on the Dragon Boat Festival, which fell on last Saturday, the centuries-old Qianshu Dragon Kiln unveiled its latest treasures amid thunderous drums and undulating dragon dances. Over a thousand spectators gathered as a kiln master meticulously inspected each fireproof sagger container, his experienced hands assessing the integrity of every ceramic piece emerging from the dragon's belly. Kiln firing remains the key to good ceramics. In southern China, the most popular kiln type is the dragon kiln, named for its dragon-like shape as it slopes along hillsides. Dating back thousands of years, the distinctive and efficient dragon kilns have played an indispensable role in China's ceramic history.

The dragon kiln was instrumental in forging Yixing's reputation as the nation's "pottery capital." Recognized for its historical significance, the Qianshu Dragon Kiln was listed as a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level in 2006. "Originally, the dragon kilns fired daily necessities. Now, they primarily fire purple clay products, which is an invaluable cultural treasure here," said Wu Xiaoyang, a local kiln master with over 50 years of experience. (Xinhua)