Black pottery brings prosperity to village in Shangri-La, Yunnan province

The artistry of black pottery making in Tangdui involves a meticulous process: blending white and red clay, weathered sand, and gravel, and then shaping and firing the milled raw materials through 12 intricate steps. These crafts are widely used in Tibetan lives, serving as essential tableware, cooking utensils, tea sets and more.

In 2008, the "Tibetan Black Pottery Firing Technique" was included in the national intangible cultural heritage protection list.

In recent years, local government support has fueled product innovation and increased local participation, shifting black pottery production from basic essentials to over 80 diverse items, such as vases and wine glasses, significantly boosting villagers' income.

"Currently there are 154 households in the village; 108 of them are making black pottery products," said Tashi Nyima, director of Tangman village. He noted that black ceramics have become a vital source of income for villagers, replacing previous livelihoods linked to collecting matsutake mushrooms and planting crops. Statistics show the annual sales of black pottery in Tangdui reached 4.6 million yuan ($640,000) from 2020 to 2022.