Editor's Note:

In recent years,MK sports with the continuous upgrading of China's products and the acceleration of internationalization, many local specialties in China have gradually broken regional boundaries and entered global markets, becoming new favorites among international consumers. In this "My Treasured Hometown" series, we will focus on these distinctive local products and explore how, through preserving traditions and innovation, they have evolved from small workshops and family factories into internationally recognized brands.

This third installment highlights the journey of Qufu's glazed tile craftsmanship, an ancient art that has found new life and global appeal through the determination of its inheritors, their commitment to tradition, and their continuous exploration of innovation.

A bird's-eye view captures the Confucius Temple in Qufu, East China's Shandong Province. Photo: VCG

In the ZooParc de Beauval in Saint-Aignan, France, the brightest stars are undoubtedly the giant pandas Huan Huan and Yuan Zi and their twin cubs, who journeyed all the way from China.

In the eyes of visitors, just as attention-grabbing as the pandas themselves is the glass-tile cottage where they live. When the shimmering Chinese-style architecture combines with the adorable pandas, the rich essence of China overflows.

Few people know that these glimmering glazed tiles are linked to China's great ancient philosopher Confucius.

The glazed tiles used in the construction of the panda house were produced in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, in East China's Shandong Province.

For centuries, the factory in the city has been making tiles for the Temple of Confucius, the Mansion of the Kong family, and the Cemetery of Confucius, enhancing the grandeur of the buildings.

Today, this ancient craft has discovered a new market as a national-level "intangible cultural heritage." It has found a path toward high-quality commercialization and has even gone global, showcasing China's traditional architecture to a wider audience.

The architecture of the panda pavilion at ZooParc de Beauval in Saint-Aignan, France features glazed tiles from Qufu, China. Photo: VCG

Heritage of glory

Stepping into the Qufu Glazed Tile Factory, one can see rows of yellow glazed tube tiles, each looking like a piece of bamboo sliced in half, neatly stacked in the courtyard. On the back of each golden tile, the characters "Yusheng Gong" are engraved.

Yusheng Gong is a variant of Yansheng Gong or Duke Yansheng, which was a hereditary noble title in China, granted to the direct descendants of Confucius. This marking signifies the distinguished origin of these tiles.

The earliest history of Qufu's glazed tile craftsmanship dates back to the year 1008, when Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) ordered the expansion of the Confucius Temple and commanded the Zhu family from North China's Shanxi Province to relocate to Qufu for the specialized production of glazed tiles.

During the reign of Emperor Hongzhi of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the glazed tile factory was established in Dazhuang village, Qufu. Since then, it has endured for over 600 years.

"Be it the Dacheng Hall, the main building of a Confucius temple that enshrines the statue of Confucius, or the Confucius Mansion, where his direct descendants once lived, all the glazed tiles used in renovations were made here," Wang Shubao told the Global Times.

Wang is the head of Qufu Glazed Tile Factory and a recognized inheritor of this intangible cultural heritage. He has been working in the industry for over 40 years.

"The production process for official glazed tiles is complex and meticulous, different from that of folk glazed tiles. A single qualified official tile must go through more than 20 steps, including crushing, washing, mixing, refining clay, molding, shaping, drying, and bisque firing," he explained.

In 2014, the glazed tile-making technique of Qufu was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Today, the factory continues to produce glazed tiles for the restoration of the three most significant Confucian sites. Beyond this, inheritors of the craft have expanded the market, promoting this heritage while selling their tiles across China and overseas.

"In China, glazed tiles symbolize beauty. They are durable, colorful, and lustrous, making them a treasured feature of ancient Chinese architecture," Wang said.

Colorful glazed tiles made by the Qufu Glazed Tile Factory Photo: Shan Jie/GT

He emphasized that the tiles made by the Qufu factory stand apart from others. "Our glazed tile mythical beasts are not as fierce and majestic as those on the rooftops of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Instead, they are more humanized, reflecting the quiet and elegant style of Confucian culture. Confucian philosophy has had a significant influence on our tile design and production. Our products embody the gentle and benevolent spirit of Confucianism."

While preserving traditional craftsmanship, Qufu's glazed tiles have found an expanding market. From the gate of the Summer Palace in Beijing to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, these exquisite tiles have been widely used.

Taking it a step further, Qufu's glazed tiles are now exported to countries including the US, Israel, Germany, Australia, Japan, and Russia.

"In the US, we supplied glazed tiles for Chinese garden projects. The traditional-style architecture in France's panda pavilion was also our work. In a park project in Israel, we were responsible for constructing antique-style corridors and pavilions," Wang said.

He explained that some of these international projects were facilitated by relevant associations and construction authorities. "During construction, we encountered challenges, such as differing local building regulations and language barriers. However, we overcame these difficulties and successfully completed the projects," he noted.

Spirit of craftsmanship

Wang has devoted over 40 years to the art of glazed tile-making. 

Growing up in Dazhuang village, where the craft has deep roots, Wang's connection to tile-making is both personal and profound. Surrounded by the tiles from an early age, he became fascinated by the flames of the kiln and the tiles. This lifelong connection inspired his commitment to preserving the craft.

Over the decades, Wang witnessed the challenges faced by the industry, including a shrinking market and growing environmental regulations. 

"The industry went from thriving to nearly declining, and we faced an existential crisis," Wang said.

In 2011, Wang took decisive action to revive the traditional craft. The first major change was the installation of a modern natural gas kiln, significantly improving air quality and reducing harmful emissions during production.

A senior sculptor makes a warrior statue at the Qufu Glazed Tile Factory. Photo: Shan Jie/GT

The production of glazed tiles is a delicate and highly technical process. Different colors are achieved by carefully mixing metal oxides into the glaze - yellow using iron oxide, green using copper oxide, and so on. Wang's dedication to refining the production process has led to a deep understanding of the materials and techniques involved.

Though the work is grueling, particularly in the high-heat drying rooms where temperatures often exceed 50 C, Wang remains committed to the craft. 

He has also seen the next generation of artisans bring fresh ideas to the business. "We have worked with local universities like the Shandong University of Art & Design to incorporate the creativity of younger generations into our designs, ensuring the craft stays relevant to modern tastes."

Wang's focus on market demand for glazed tiles and his push toward "intangible cultural heritage industrialization" have helped the factory grow. Today, the factory manufactures products worth 50 million yuan ($7 million) annually, providing jobs to over 200 people in the surrounding area. The factory has also expanded its product range beyond traditional tiles to include decorative elements such as ridge beasts and other ornamental pieces.

Bringing culture home 

As the hometown of Confucius, Qufu is rich in cultural heritage and tourism resources. For visitors from around the world, especially those from countries like Japan and South Korea, which have historically been influenced by Chinese culture, Qufu is a pilgrimage destination.

Wang has long pondered how to allow more people to experience the charm of the glazed tiles.

As the market evolved, Wang broke free from conventional thinking and began developing and designing new cultural and creative products, such as small glazed tile figurines and home decor items.

He hopes tourists can bring the symbols of glazed tile culture into their homes, preserving the art while breathing new life into traditional culture.

"Nowadays, people may not buy large, heavy glazed tiles to build their houses, but they're more inclined to purchase small, exquisite glazed creative products," Wang explained.

The glazed tile rooftops of the Confucius Mansion in Qufu shine under the sunlight. Photo: VCG

"For instance, our glazed tile lion figurines are modeled after the 'Sacred Mansion's Auspicious Lions,' scaled down to create a 'Chinese-style figurine' perfect for visitors to Qufu. Such adorable glazed craft pieces are more aligned with the needs of modern people and help spread awareness of the art of glazed tile-making," he said.

He has noticed the recent trend of Chinese culture gaining popularity on foreign social media and observed an influx of foreigners flocking to Chinese social media platforms like Xiaohongshu (RedNote). Wang hopes to leverage this cultural wave to promote glazed tile souvenirs, with plans to send them abroad.

Under Wang's leadership, not only have glazed tiles been developed into creative products, but also other local crafts such as painting, garden landscaping, ancient building design, and artistic sculptures have also been industrialized, creating a broader cultural industry chain.

The local community is beginning to see the emergence of a cultural industry cluster that is not only protecting but also revitalizing Qufu's intangible cultural heritage.

"We have also established the Glazed Tile Intangible Heritage Workshop, where we present the 600-year-old tradition of Qufu glazed tile-making in various forms," Wang said.

"Next, I plan to open up experiential sessions, so more people from around the world can personally engage with and learn about this ancient craft."