Pingtang county in Guizhou province — home of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope — also made a name for itself with traditional Yazhou pottery.

Yazhou pottery was produced in Xingtao village in Pingtang's Yazhou town. Historical records show that it was brought from Jiangxi province more than 600 years ago.

Yazhou pottery-making technique was added to the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2018. It has also been listed as one of the top 10 ancient pottery styles in China.

Yazhou has mild winters and summers, and the comfortable natural climate fosters delicate soil. The light gray clay is soft and smooth and can withstand the high temperatures of kiln firing — about 1,300 degrees — without deformation, making it a good raw material for pottery production.

Yazhou pottery mostly takes the form of household items. The patterns, presented in relief, are characterized by natural and simple modeling, soft lines and elegant and harmonious colors.

Yazhou pottery works have been displayed at the National Arts and Crafts Exhibition and other well-known ceramics exhibitions held in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and abroad.

In recent years, the local government has introduced innovative products in offline and online markets. Yazhou town has established a base for teenagers to closely observe and practice the ceramics craft.

Wang Jin contributed to this story.