Crossing 500 Years of Fire: At Foshan’s Nanfeng Ancient Kiln, ‘Add Fuel to Your Fortune and Career’ (添财加薪)!

Hello to all my traveling friends!

If you are searching for a place that allows you to truly immerse yourself in China’s ancient craftsmanship and vibrant culture, I have one must-visit destination to strongly recommend: the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln (Nánfēng Gǔzào) in Foshan, Guangdong, South China.

This is no ordinary tourist spot; it is a living history museum, a five-century-old “Fire Dragon” that is still burning today, and a sacred place where generations of locals have cherished their humble wishes for a beautiful life. As one of the most compelling Foshan Attractions, Nanfeng Ancient Kiln invites you to embark on a journey steeped in the fragrance of clay, ancient wisdom, and magical blessings.

I. History: The 500-Year Unextinguished ‘Fire Dragon’—A Living Fossil of Foshan History

The moment you step into the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln Scenic Area, you will be struck by the massive brick structure winding up the hillside. Locals affectionately call it the "Dragon Kiln" (Lóng Yáo) because it is built against the slope, resembling a colossal dragon poised on the ground, full of energy and power.

Its story dates back to the distant Ming Dynasty during the Zhengde period (1506 AD). Yes, you heard that right—this ancient kiln has been continuously firing for over five hundred years, and it is still in operation today! Imagine a flame that has never died out since the Renaissance period. It has witnessed the rise and fall of Chinese dynasties and the immense changes of modern times. This is an unparalleled historical depth, earning the Nanfeng Kiln the title of "Ceramic Living Fossil" and a place in the Guinness World Records.

Do you know why it is called "Nanfeng" (South Wind)? This reveals the ingenuity of ancient Chinese people in adapting to nature. The mouth of this Dragon Kiln faces south. In the sweltering summer, the breeze from the south efficiently feeds the fire inside the kiln, ensuring thorough burning, while also providing a welcome coolness to the hardworking potters. Hence the name "South Wind," symbolizing smooth operation and prosperity.

Standing before the magnificent Dragon Kiln, you feel more than just the antiquity of the bricks; you feel the warm pulse of centuries of Foshan history. It stands like a silent giant, recounting the glorious past of Foshan as the "Ceramic Capital of the South."

II. Art: The Magic of Clay and Fire—Hands-On Shiwan Pottery Experience

The town of Shiwan, where Nanfeng Kiln is located, is the globally renowned ceramic capital of China. The artistic pottery here, especially the famous Shiwan Figurines (Shiwan Gongzai), is celebrated for its lifelike sculpting, elegant glazes, and incredible expressiveness. The potters here seem to possess magical hands, imbuing a piece of ordinary clay with soul.

For every visiting Foshan tourist, one of the biggest draws to Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is the opportunity to deeply engage and experience the joy of pottery creation.

🎨 Roll Up Your Sleeves and Become a Potter for a Day!

Beyond the ancient kilns, the area thrives with a lively artistic atmosphere. The scenic area is dotted with large and small pottery workshops, where friendly masters welcome you to join in their creative process:

1. Pottery Throwing Experience (Lā Pī): Sit at the spinning wheel and feel the marvelous process of clay slowly taking shape beneath your fingers. From a lump of mud to a rudimentary bowl or cup, this process is meditative, therapeutic, and creatively fulfilling. Even if you are a beginner, professional masters will patiently guide you, helping you complete a piece that is truly yours.

2. Sculpting and Painting (Diāosù & Cǎihuì): You can also try painting on small ceramic models or learning simple clay modeling techniques. Imagine creating a small sculpture with distinctive Lingnan (Southern China) flair, and then letting the kiln's fire complete the final "magic."

Your finished masterpiece can be shipped back home after firing, serving as a unique, memory-filled souvenir of your trip. It’s more than a simple memento; it is a tangible connection to the ancient art of Foshan.

III. Culture: The Most Unique Chinese Blessing—The Ritual of “Add Fuel to Your Fortune and Career”

This is arguably the most unique, heartwarming, and culturally rich part of the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln experience. It is inextricably linked to the five-hundred-year-old kiln fire.

The “Add Fuel to Your Fortune and Career” (Tiān Chái Jiā Xīn) ceremony is a distinctive blessing ritual practiced by locals during the kiln firing. Its charm lies in the clever use of Chinese homophones (similar-sounding words) and profound, simple wishes:

1. “Add Fuel” (Tiān Chái) → “Add Fortune/Talent” (Tiān Cái):

2. The word for "firewood" (柴, Chái) sounds very similar to "fortune/wealth" (财, Cái) and "talent/wisdom" (才, Cái). Therefore, tossing firewood into the blazing kiln is understood as literally "adding fortune" (attracting wealth) and "adding talent" (increasing wisdom and ability) for yourself.

3. “Increase Salary/Career” (Jiā Xīn):

4. This literally means "increasing one's salary," but its deeper meaning is adding fuel to one's career. Feeding the fire symbolizes boosting your work and business, wishing for professional success, continuous progress, and a higher position.

✨ A Personal Invitation: Write Your Wish and Toss It into the 500-Year Fire!

We sincerely invite you, as a friend from afar, to personally participate in this powerful and hopeful ceremony:

• Receive Your "Blessing Firewood": You will be given a small piece of wood, along with a piece of red paper (red is the color of luck and celebration in China).

• Write Your Wish: On the red paper, you can use your native language or Chinese to write down your most sincere wishes—for wealth, career, health, studies, or anything important to you.

• Attach and Toss into the Kiln: Carefully tie the red paper with your wishes onto the firewood. Then, with a respectful heart, personally toss this piece of wood, which now carries your aspiration, into the flames of the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln.

As the fire instantly consumes the wood and turns it into rising smoke, locals believe this powerful flame will carry your wishes skyward, helping you to achieve a future where you are "wealthy and successful, with a soaring career." This immersive ritual is a unique Chinese blessing you will find nowhere else!

IV. Exploration: Slow Life in a Lingnan Ancient Village

Beyond the Dragon Kiln and pottery workshops, the surrounding ancient village of Nanfeng Kiln offers a perfect environment for a leisurely exploration:

• Stroll Through Ming and Qing Architecture: Wander through the ancient complex of blue bricks and gray tiles, instantly transporting you back to the historical waterside villages of Lingnan. Every corner here is a superb spot for photography.

• Touch the Centuries-Old Banyan Trees: At the tail of the ancient kiln, you will find massive, ancient banyan trees that have stood here, accompanying the kiln fire, for over four centuries. Locals say that touching the roots of these ancient trees will bring you good fortune.

• Discover the ‘Old CBD’ of Zhuzi Street: Walk along the stone-paved streets to nearby Zhuzi Street, which was once the commercial hub of Shiwan. Here, you can taste authentic Foshan snacks and Lingnan home-style cuisine, and relax in a teahouse, soaking in the area’s rich history and the unhurried pace of local life.

Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is truly a destination that perfectly blends history, art, culture, and everyday life. It is not just a must-see for a Foshan tourist; it is a "Land of Fortune" that allows you to personally experience ancient Chinese wisdom and leave with a bag full of unique art and sincere blessings.

Come, let this five-hundred-year-old kiln fire "Add Fuel to Your Fortune and Career" and gift you a unique and unforgettable memory of Southern China! We await your visit!