Shanxi village thrives with traditional colored glaze industry

By Zhu Xingxin and Zhou Huiying (chinadaily.com.cn)

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Artisans are busy making colored glaze products at the national intangible cultural heritage production base in Houzeyao village of Jincheng city, Shanxi province. [Photo by Chen Laiquan/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Recently, artisans have been busy making colored glaze products at the national intangible cultural heritage production base in Houzeyao village of Jincheng city, Shanxi province.

The styles often appear in ancient buildings, such as palaces, tombs, monasteries, temples and pagodas. In 2008, the skills were listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, the village has organized villagers to establish 16 glass production factories via investment and partnership, to develop the traditional industry and ensure its inheritance.

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Artisans are busy making colored glaze products at the national intangible cultural heritage production base in Houzeyao village of Jincheng city, Shanxi province. [Photo by Chen Laiquan/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Over 500 villagers participate in the industry, annually producing 150 million colored glaze products with an output value of 375 million yuan ($51.68 million).

The village's various colored glaze products have become a well-known Shanxi brand, with many selling well nationwide.

Colored glaze has injected new vitality into rural revitalization, and the industry has become the pillar helping farmers in the village to increase their income and prosperity.

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Artisans are busy making colored glaze products at the national intangible cultural heritage production base in Houzeyao village of Jincheng city, Shanxi province. [Photo by Chen Laiquan/For chinadaily.com.cn]

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Artisans are busy making colored glaze products at the national intangible cultural heritage production base in Houzeyao village of Jincheng city, Shanxi province. [Photo by Chen Laiquan/For chinadaily.com.cn]