Yixing County Travel Guide
China’s ‘pottery capital’ is situated in Jiangsu and boasts more than 3,000 years’ worth of pottery production to its name. An important regional capital, Yixing County operates several museums and exhibition halls.
The most popular ceramic item from Yixing County is the clay teapot, used in tea ceremonies throughout the country. These pots are short, squat and usually a matte brown color. Connoisseurs claim that the fired clay brings out a unique flavor profile in the steeping tea.
The Yixing Pottery Museum is the best place to investigate the pottery trade. Exhibits include actual pieces from every relevant time period along with tools for the artisan. Another major site in town is the residence of the Taiping monarch. When the Taiping uprising displaced the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century, this house became a royal residence.
There are also a few caves in the Yixing countryside. The Cave of Hidden Kindness is a massive cavern with hidden cascades and stone carvings dating back 1,200 years or more. The Cave of the Valley of the Gods also boasts ancient inscriptions while Mr Zhang’s Cave is actually a network of 72 caverns and is said to have housed the immortal Zhang Guolao in the 7th century.
Getting There & Away
There is no airport or railway station in Yixing County, so all tourists arrive by road-based transport. Buses can connect from Shanghai to Yixing in 3 hours or less. Another option is to connect through either Wuxi or Nanjing, both of which are in reach of Yixing County, operate airports and are less than 100 miles from Shanghai.