China is famed for its variety of chinaware. The china dates back to immemorial times. Since the Warring States Period (403-221 B.C.), craftsmen in the central kingdom have been turning out top-class pieces of china. In the Song Dynasty, five state-run china workshops were famous for their superb products. These chinaware pieces were exported to foreign countries. Those left from these times are now among the most precious antiques.

The state-run china kilns in the South Song Dynasty baked chinaware for royal families and imperial officers only. The chinaware produced at these workshops are characterized by their peerless shapes, glaze colors, porcelain bases, and artistic sophistication, all unique in ancient China. What make the chinaware fabricated in that period unique are the crack-like grains on the porcelain surface, workmanship and the aesthetic sophistication.

The museum is located on the site where a South Song Dynasty state-run kiln stood at the southern foot of Turtle Hill. The museum is divided into the protection section and the display section. The site protection hall is covered by a large-span lightweight frame structure, the biggest relic site protection structure in the south China for archaeological site protection and sightseeing. Visitors can take a downward panoramic picture of the whole relic site of the official porcelain furnace.

The exhibition hall is further divided into three sections respectively for displaying the precious all-time porcelain pieces, the history and products of the state-run porcelain workshops in the South Song Dynasty, and the imitation chinaware made in modern times. The exhibition covers the complete history of China's porcelain-making industry in a systematic way, especially illustrated by all the exhibits to showcase the porcelain achievements made in the South Song Dynasty.

Add: 42 Shijiashan, Nanfu Road, Fuxing Avenue, Hangzhou, China

Tel: 0086-571-86083990

Editor: Li Guixiang.     Source: www.hzwestlake.com