Kiln dating back to the Ming dynasty is still in operation in China

Twists and turns lead us towards the ancient kiln in Yixing. Through the rain, along this remote path, we eventually saw the sign for the 'Qianshu Ancient Dragon Kiln'. Despite being shielded by other buildings, we firmly believed that the Dragon Kiln was there. Why? Because we could almost feel the aura exuded by this mysterious Dragon Kiln.

Photo via BON TV

The ancient kiln here is known as the "Dragon Kiln" in the local area as it resembles a dragon. Before we came to the ancient Dragon Kiln, we hadn't seen it before, apart from as a model in a museum. We didn't know whether it would still be working, nor did we know whether we would be allowed to go inside or not.

When we got to the site, some workers were transporting pieces placed outside into the cave. To show that we meant no harm, we turned on our camera lights for them. The person in charge saw that we weren't going to disrupt or disturb their work, so he allowed us to shoot in there. I got the impression that we weren't the first crew to film there.

Photo via BON TV

They went about their work very efficiently, clearly experienced and skilled. All the earthenware, placed in piles outside, was transported in just half an hour after we arrived. However, when we tried to approach its entrance, the person in charge stopped us. So we of course respected this. We felt satisfied though as we had seen the Ancient Dragon Kiln opening and operating. We had already heard that the Dragon Kiln rarely operates, so to see it working was lucky. Once the fire is lit in the kiln, it lasts for three days and three nights.

When we looked around, we were surprised to see another small and unattended alcove in the kiln. After it was confirmed that the kiln wouldn't be fired up, our curiosity was finally satisfied and we were allowed in. And we certainly weren't disappointed.

The interior of the kiln was covered with a thick layer of a hardened, oil-like substance. There were people placing pottery in the kiln, with one sitting on a small stool and carefully positioning each piece handed to him. The whole space would be filled with pieces ready to be fired.

Photo via BON TV

Nowadays, purple-sand pottery from Yixing is usually made in electronic kilns which are easy to use with their temperature gauges. But these can't compare with the traditions and ancient heritage of the fire-powered Ancient Dragon Kiln. Here, instead of relying on modern technology, the experts use their skills and experience to lovingly create each piece. Technology may speed up the process, but it also means that the traditional ancient processes are fading away. The Qianshu Dragon Kiln is the only preserved ancient dragon kiln in Yixing. The site and its workers are respected and admired by locals. On top of the Dragon Kiln is a small, uninhabited house with simple electrics, and a cable running through the yard. The cable is used as a pulley to load goods from the bottom of the hill, a method that has clearly been used for many years.

Photo via BON TV

Most of the work that we witnessed here involved the transportation of pottery into the kiln when the fire is lit. And how we still don't know. When it started to rain again, we decided to leave. We were grateful that we were lucky enough to have seen the kiln open. We also hope that this ancient production method will be preserved and continue to be used for many years to come.

Photo via BON TV

China's outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), adopted on Thursday, maps out a systematic path toward high-quality development by building new growth drivers through the fostering of emerging and future industries.

In the latest five-year blueprint, the emerging strategic industries China will nurture have been expanded to include new sectors like intelligent connected new-energy vehicles (NEVs) and robotics. It also outlines plans to establish emerging strategic industry clusters tailored to local conditions, each with its own distinctive features and complementary strengths.

Experts suggested that this marks a shift for emerging industries -- from isolated breakthroughs to scaled, clustered development.

"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we aim to further promote and expand emerging industries in both scale and quality. The development of industrial clusters is a clear reflection of economies of scale. Building on the existing foundation, this will further sharpen the international competitiveness of our emerging industries. The blueprint's emphasis on new application scenarios and innovative business models will also help steer these industries toward a higher quality of development," said Wei Qijia, a researcher at the State Information Center, which is under China's National Development and Reform Commission.

The plan also identifies key frontiers to reach, including quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied artificial intelligence (AI) and 6G. Moving beyond mere technological roadmaps, it also stresses the need to build a full-chain incubation system for future industries.

"This forward-looking approach reflects a keen sense of foresight. The plan introduces mechanisms for identifying and monitoring emerging industries and making dynamic adjustments accordingly. If a particular new area or arena shows potential to foster emerging future technologies, it needs to be identified as early as possible. The blueprint's specific references to initiatives such as pilot zones for future industries and research institutes dedicated to their development also signal an important direction in terms of working methodology -- providing clear guidance on how to nurture the industries of the future," he said.

China's five-year blueprint set to foster emerging, future industries