Nestled in a mountain valley, Sanqingkou, an ancient village in Jiangshan, a county-level city in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, is renowned for its historical production of blue-and-white porcelain.

This serene village is home to ancient bridges, lush trees, flowing streams, and wandering ducks. A notable landmark is the Wenchang ancient bridge, a circular single-arched stone bridge spanning 17.5 meters. It crosses Sanqingkou Creek from north to south, linking the ends of the Xianxia Ancient Path, a crucial route into Fujian province in ancient times.

The Wenchang ancient bridge is located in Sanqingkou village, Jiangshan. [Photo/WeChat ID: quzhouta]

The Sanqingkou ancient village is one of the birthplaces of early Chinese blue-and-white porcelain and houses a number of intact ancient kilns. The porcelain produced was transported along the Xianxia Ancient Path to various regions. The village retains the only traditional porcelain workshop from the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) in West Zhejiang, preserving ancient production methods and techniques.

The village also houses ancestral temples and clan halls, along with nearly a hundred ancient buildings.

A part of the porcelain workshop in Sanqingkou village, Jiangshan. [Photo/WeChat ID: quzhouta]

In the porcelain workshop, the dragon kiln, built on slopes to resemble a climbing dragon, is a traditional wood fire kiln in China which ceased operation in 1997 due to a lack of market competitiveness.

Last year, the dragon kiln was rekindled, breathing new life into the ancient village and revitalizing its historical legacy.