The China Study & Goodwill Delegation from Australia visited the Tongguan Kiln in Wangcheng District, Changsha City on April 8 and 9, 2026. The delegation toured the Changsha Tongguan Kiln Museum and the Tongguan Kiln China-chic Paradise. Bonding over their admiration of the thousand-year-old ceramic culture, the delegates discussed mutual learning among civilizations, revitalizing the contemporary significance of the Maritime Silk Road.

Delegates experience the unique charm of Huxiang culture through ceramics and traditional attire. (Photo/Chen Fei, Changsha Evening News)

As night fell, the Tongguan Kiln China-chic Paradise was aglow with dazzling lights. The delegates immersed themselves in nighttime cultural performances such as the "Molten Iron Fireworks Show" and the "Tongguan Water Show." They visited intangible cultural heritage workshops to try their hand at pottery-making and putting on traditional Chinese costumes. Surrounded by ancient charm, they gained a firsthand appreciation of the profound heritage and unique allure of Hunan's intangible cultural heritage.

At the Changsha Tongguan Kiln Museum, Noelene Wilma Isherwood paused before the thousand-year-old porcelain treasures and expressed her heartfelt admiration, "The Tongguan Kiln has a profound history, and its ceramic craftsmanship is truly exquisite. Every single exhibit is deeply moving." She gave a thumbs up on China's model of integrating culture and tourism, expressing her hope that more Australians would learn about Chinese history and draw inspiration from its cultural wisdom.

Members of the delegation observe the exhibits. (Photo/Zhang Xinyi, Changsha Evening News)

Richard Joseph Stringer also spoke highly of China's efforts to preserve and pass on its cultural heritage. He noted that China cherishes its history and connects with the world through cooperation, and that its development path is worthy of recognition and emulation.

During the discussion session, Yang Yi, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Changsha Municipal Committee, director of the Information Office of the Changsha Municipal People's Government, and director of the Changsha Malanshan Publicity and Culture Center, presented a friendship memento from the Tongguan Kiln to John Leslie Lander, head of the delegation, symbolizing the friendship between China and Australia.

A gift from the Tongguan Kiln symbolizing the friendship between China and Australia. (Photo/Zhang Xinyi, Changsha Evening News)

John Leslie Lander expressed his view that people-to-people friendship is the cornerstone of bilateral relations. He will continue to promote people-to-people exchanges between Australia and China to help both countries achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

The Changsha Tongguan Kiln is the birthplace of underglaze colored ceramics and a production hub for ceramic exports along the Maritime Silk Road in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). Over 80% of the artifacts recovered from the Batu Hitam shipwreck near Indonesia originated from this site. It has now been included in the tentative list of "Maritime Silk Road: Chinese Heritage Sites."

Richard Yuan, an Australian Justice of the Peace and chairperson of the Australia China Entrepreneurs Club, said that he will take this tour as a bridge to promote comprehensive collaboration between China and Australia in such areas as cultural, economic and trade exchange, and international communication, enabling the thousand-year-old kiln fires to transcend mountains and seas and go global.

The delegation poses for a group photo at the Changsha Tongguan Kiln Museum. (Photo/Zhang Xinyi, Changsha Evening News)

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: Changsha Evening News