chao Hong. Creation of a tea pot.

This is what the finished tea pot will look like.  

Small by western standards, not much bigger than your fist.

This is the natural colour of Yixing clay and teapots are unglazed.

The turntable - most of the processes of making the pot, lid and attaching spouts and handles etcwill take place here.

There is a circle of clay on the centre of the turntable.  This provides the size of the base and the body  of the teapot will be constructed around this.

Above: chao Hong at her work table.  

She makes around 6 teapots at one time.  In front of her are slabs of clay approx 25X10cm flattened out.   The circles of clay on the table will become the lids of the teapot.  it is amazing that these flat shapes can be patted and moulded into the various curved shapes of the teapots.

chao Hong is moulding one of the strips of clay around the clay base on the turntable. She will cut the clay to size.

Above:  Joining the side of the teapot.

Above and blow.  "Patting" and turning the pot on the turntable to give the rounded shape.

 One after one, she makes the body of the pots and stores them in a large plastic container while she goes onto the next process.  

Above and below, rolling out and making the handles and spouts of the teapots.

Yixing Daily Newspaper article. March 2nd. Foreigners in Yixing

In Yixing, foreigners really do not see outside!

2018-03-09 Yixing Daily

They come from all over the world. They have different languages ​​and different cultures.

They are all living in a foreign country, feeling their lives, tasting the dishes...

They are foreigners in Yixing.

From simple tourists to the builders of urban development in Yixing, they really do not see outside. Their emotions toward Yixing are undergoing a warm "chemical reaction" with the "fermentation" of time.

Next, let everyone listen to their “Yixing story” and feel their “Yixing Complex”~

Thomas Dieter is a technical consultant for a multinational company. In 2006, Thomas's company invested and built factories in Yixing. He was one of the first German employees to be sent to Yixing. At that time, there were very few foreigners in Yixing, and Thomas could hardly find entertainment at night. Fortunately, Yixing did not let him alone for too long. Thomas soon discovered that even if foreigners are not fluent in language, Yixing still has a strong human touch. He is willing to find someone on the road and is willing to help him.

As the focus of work gradually shifted to Yixing, in 2009, Thomas decided to live in Yixing for a long time. With the rapid development of the city, there are more and more bars, gymnasiums, and shopping malls in Yixing. Thomas's life is rapidly enriched and facilitated. What is most pleasing is that during his stay, he reaped love with Wang Jing, an Yixing girl. In 2014, they also had a lovely daughter. Today, Thomas has become increasingly indispensable to Yixing.

Stefan and his colleagues work together

Stefan Prebustin, Technical Director of Jiangsu Bada Technology Co., Ltd., is a 32-year-old German man. The world’s top aviation and fluid mechanics expert who won the von Carmen Prize brought the world’s most advanced fluid technology to Yixing and is ready to take root in the “second homeland”. Talking about the reasons for choosing Yixing, Stefan said that this is inseparable from the new pattern of opening up in an all-round, multi-level, and wide-ranging manner in recent years with Yixing’s efforts to promote enterprises to explore the international market, continuously increase the support of foreign talents. .

In the past year or more since the company reached a cooperation with Octopus Technology, Stefan has introduced several aviation simulation and optimization projects for the company, helping airlines improve their key operating procedures, saving energy and improving energy efficiency. In view of the achievements in scientific and technological innovation, Stefan led the team was identified as "Taoying talented people", also received bonus subsidies from the Gaochun town government. These real rewards give Stefan a warm welcome. He said that in the future his team will continue to develop new products and promote Octopus to go global and climb the top of the industry.

 

(Margaret and friends in tea)

Margaret comes from Australia and is a foreign teacher at Weibo English Yixing Center. Although she came to Yixing for only four months, she has already had her own opinions on the local customs, culture and atmosphere. In her eyes, the culture of Yixing is profound and charming. During this time, she was impressed by the pottery culture and tea culture. She said that in her hometown, tea is a kind of drink that can be spotted on the menu of the restaurant. In Yixing, a wide variety of tea and pottery products can be found everywhere. For Yixing people, drinking tea is a more exquisite thing. With a complete set of etiquette, the owner’s courtesy and tea ceremony are all examples of respect for the guests.

Margaret said that when she was drinking tea in Yixing, she felt that her time had slowed down and enjoyed her time with her friends. She hopes that when she returns to her hometown, she will be able to share what she has seen and heard with her relatives and friends, so that more Australians will experience the unique charm of Yixing culture.

One hundred foreigners have Yixing in their eyes.

During this period, many foreign friends recorded their own intimate contact with this small city and used their camera to “sweet” the happiness of living and working here.