Nestled on the scenic shores of Taihu Lake and surrounded by gentle hills, Yixing County is renowned far beyond its borders for one quintessential product — “Purple Clay” (zisha) teaware. 

In the morning, we will meet at Hongqiao Train Station and take the high-speed train from Shanghai to Yixing (Shanghai Hongqiao–Yixing 08:20–09:34) and visit Gunan Old Street. Gunan Old Street is not merely a tourist attraction but a living and breathing historical core of Yixing City, intimately intertwined with the evolution of its famous purple clay pottery industry. It was once a place where raw clay was vibrantly traded and finished teapots were sold to distributors and scholars, and where artisans congregated. 

After a delicious shared Chinese-style lunch, we will embark on a hands-on opportunity to craft our very own zisha mug under the guidance of a skilled artisan. This is more than just a pottery class. It is an immersive journey…