Century-old Wuxi brands keep up with the times

Some of Wuxi's oldest brands are updating their traditional products for the 21st century.

Take a look at how these time-honored businesses in Huishan district are breathing new life into the city's cultural heritage.

Wangyuanji iron pot

Ever since it was founded in 1837, Wangyuanji Pot Factory has been the most famous iron workshop in Wuxi, one of the "four major towns for iron casting" in China.

This cast iron pot boasts a history of more than 200 years. [Photo by Qin Jun / chinadaily.com.cn]

Wangyuanji makes its iron pots according to the traditional methods described in the Tiangong Kaiwu, or Exploitation of the Works of Nature, a Chinese encyclopedia compiled by Song Yingxing during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Boasting traditional molds passed down from the time of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a Wangyuanji iron pot is not just a product but a piece of China's cultural heritage.

Wang Qingqing, the fourth generation of her family to work for Wangyuanji, speaks at an exhibition center in Wangyuanji Pot Factory. [Photo by Qin Jun / chinadaily.com.cn]

In the face of challenges from modern competitors such as non-stick pans and stainless steel cooking ware, Wang Qingqing, the fourth generation of her family to work at Wangyuanji, has made some improvements to the craftsmanship and modeling of the pots to make them more environmentally friendly and healthy, injecting new life into the old brand.

According to a Lifehacker report, cast iron pans are a reliable source of dietary iron. If you cook in a cast iron pan, it's worth noting that longer cooking times, a newer pan, and liquid foods tend to leach more iron into your foods.