The Shabu Kiln site. [Photo/The official news website of Taizhou]

The new Dragon Kiln, built according to ancient Shabu Kiln methods, recently opened after firing for over 30 hours in Shabu town, Huangyan district, Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province.

The Shabu Kiln site, a national key cultural heritage unit, is home to seven kilns spread across Shabu town and Gaoqiao subdistrict. Archaeological excavations began at the site in 2019, and it was included on the Chinese World Heritage pre-list in 2025.

The new Dragon Kiln is 27 meters long and three meters wide, capable of firing over 3,000 porcelain pieces at once. Shabu Kilns started being used in the late Tang Dynasty (618-907) and reached their peak during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The kiln's recent firing marked the end of its long hiatus.

The traditional kilns are difficult to control compared to modern electric kilns, and each batch of porcelain is unique — which adds to the charm of ancient craftsmanship.

Next to the new Dragon Kiln, a two-story workshop has been built, offering various cultural and creative experiences for visitors. These include pottery-making, archaeological digging, and porcelain unveiling, along with themed markets for porcelain and local crafts.

Huangyan district is also accelerating the development of the Shabu Kiln Archaeological Park to further promote the preservation and utilization of the historical site.