This attraction introduction is compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · Scenic Spots section). Ticket prices, opening hours, transportation, and contact information mentioned in the text may be outdated. Please refer to the latest official announcements from the scenic area before traveling; some content consists of historical background/cultural introductions and is for reference only.
From Tongguan Town to Shutang in Wangcheng, and along the banks of the Xiang River harbor and Shizhu Lake, as well as in the area of Wazhaping by Shizhu Lake in Gucheng Village, Shutang Township, Changsha County, lies one of the famous ancient kilns of the Tang to Five Dynasties period. It is the birthplace of Chinese underglaze-colored ceramics.
The era of Changsha Kiln can roughly be traced back to the early Tang Dynasty. It gradually became prevalent in the middle and late periods, reached its peak in the late Tang, and declined at the end of the Five Dynasties. The kiln sites include two areas, Tongguan Town and Shizhu Lake, with the northern end backed by mountains and facing the river, and the southern end along the river and facing the lake, 5 kilometers apart. The Tongguan Town kiln area extends for a thousand meters along the river, with many surviving kiln workshops, and the most unearthed items are bowls. The Shizhu Lake kiln area covers more than 1 million square meters, with more than 200,000 square meters currently extant. In the kiln site area there are pits for extracting pottery clay, the largest of which is 85 meters long, 35 meters wide, and 6.5 meters deep. There are abandoned kiln mounds, of which 13 currently survive. Archaeologists excavating here obtained inscriptions dated to the third year of the Yuanhe era of the Tang Dynasty (808) and many porcelain wares with underglaze-colored paintings and inscribed poems and texts. During more than 50 days of survey and excavation in 1978, 2,223 relics were obtained, divided by vessel shape into 44 categories, with more than a hundred styles and specifications. Underglaze-colored painting and underglaze-colored decoration account for a large proportion, with 413 pieces. Practical vessels, kiln furniture, and tools were mainly wheel-made. The porcelain bodies are mostly grayish-white, and most body surfaces are coated with white slip; the degree of vitrification is high. Decorative patterns include figures, landscapes, clouds, and flowers.
