Ancient Kiln Sites of Xuancheng

Ancient Kiln Sites of Xuancheng

The Ancient Kiln Sites of Xuancheng are a protected cultural heritage site of Anhui Province.

A widely distributed cluster of kiln sites from the late Tang to the Five Dynasties period within Xuancheng. Based on survey findings and the characteristics of the artifacts, it can be largely confirmed that the Shanggang Ancient Kiln Sites are an important part of the ancient Xuancheng Kilns. The site consists of the Xiaohekou Ancient Kiln Sites, Shanggang Ancient Kiln Sites, Xingfu Ancient Kiln Sites, and Shaocun Ancient Kiln Sites.

Shanggang Ancient Kiln Sites

Located in Xingang Village Group, Dongyun Administrative Village, Lique Town, Xuancheng District, approximately 30 km south of downtown Xuancheng and about 10 km east of Lique Town. It lies about 7 km south of the Dongmentou Kiln Sites, a protected cultural heritage site of Anhui Province. Currently, the site includes nine kiln locations, all of which are dragon kiln–style structures. The accumulated layers are about 4–8 meters high, covering an area of up to 40,000 square meters. The deposits contain large amounts of red-fired clay, kiln bricks, and kiln tools, along with numerous ceramic shards. The variety of shapes is relatively rich, including ewers, small jars, bowls, and cups, among which bowls and ewers are the most common. The vessels feature relatively thick bodies, mainly in gray-black or reddish-brown, with most bases being flat, concave-bottomed pads, and few having ring feet. Simple decorative patterns are carved on the interior bottoms of bowls and on the ewers. Most of the artifacts are glazed, some fully and some partially. Glaze colors vary, including celadon, yellow, and soy sauce yellow, predominantly celadon. Comparative analysis of samples indicates that these kilns date from the late Tang to the Five Dynasties period.

Xiaohekou Ancient Kiln Sites

This group of ancient kiln sites is located in Xiaohekou Village Group, Dongyun Administrative Village, Lique Town, Xuancheng District, approximately 30 km south of downtown Xuancheng and about 13 km east of Lique Town. It is around 8 km south of the Dongmentou Kiln Sites, a provincial-level protected cultural heritage site of Anhui. The site currently includes ten kiln locations, divided into two areas: one near the Xiaohekou Pottery Factory, consisting of three deposits with an approximate area of 6,000 square meters, and another near the Xiaohekou Brick and Tile Factory, with seven deposits covering about 15,000 square meters. These are also dragon kiln–style structures, with accumulated layers about 4–6 meters high. The deposit layers contain substantial amounts of red-fired clay, kiln bricks, and tools, as well as many ceramic shards. The range of vessel shapes is fairly diverse, including ewers, small jars, bowls, and cups, with bowls and ewers being the most prevalent. Analysis of samples suggests that these kilns were active from the late Tang to the Five Dynasties period.

Xingfu Ancient Kiln Sites

Located in Xingfu Administrative Village, Yangxian Township, Xuancheng District, approximately 25 km south of downtown Xuancheng and about 11 km southeast of Yangxian Township. It lies about 5 km from the Dongmentou Kiln Sites, a provincial-level protected cultural heritage site of Anhui. The site includes eight kiln locations, divided into two areas: one in Lüjiashan, Xiaowangcun Village Group, Xingfu Administrative Village, with three deposits covering about 10,000 square meters, and another in Dacun, Xiaowangcun, with five deposits spanning approximately 3,000 square meters. These are mound-style (mantou) kilns, with accumulated layers about 2–8 meters high. The layers contain large amounts of red-fired clay, kiln bricks, and tools, along with numerous ceramic shards. The vessel shapes are relatively uniform, mainly double-handled and four-handled Han bottles. The vessels have thick bodies, mostly in gray-black or reddish-brown. All artifacts are glazed, though not to the base, predominantly in celadon. Analysis indicates that these kilns date to the Song Dynasty.

Shaocun Ancient Kiln Sites

The Shaocun Ancient Kiln Sites are located in Shaocun Administrative Village, Guquan Town, Xuancheng District, about 13 km southeast of downtown Xuancheng and 1 km southwest of Guquan Town. They lie approximately 16 km northeast of the Dongmentou Kiln Sites, a provincial-level protected cultural heritage site of Anhui. The site includes five kiln locations, divided into two areas: one in Duimen Village Group, Shaocun Administrative Village, with four deposits covering about 10,000 square meters, and another in Fengtou Village Group, with one deposit spanning about 800 square meters. The accumulated layers are about 5–8 meters high. The layers contain large amounts of red-fired clay, kiln bricks, and padding tools, along with many ceramic shards. The vessel types are relatively uniform, mainly double-handled and four-handled Han bottles, with a small number of ewers, bowls, and cups. The vessels have thick bodies, primarily in gray-black or reddish-brown. All items are glazed but not to the base, mainly in celadon. Analysis of samples suggests that these kilns were in use during the Song Dynasty.

(1) Shanggang Ancient Kiln Sites.

Protected Area: East to 30 meters beyond the protection marker, south to the village road, west to 30 meters beyond Kiln Mound No. 1, north to the northern edge of Lotus Pond.

Construction Control Zone: 30 meters east and west beyond the protected area.

(2) Xiaohekou Ancient Kiln Sites.

Protected Area: East to the dam of the Xin Niuer Port River, south to the small path south of the village, west to the water tower, north to the Xin Niuer Port River.

Construction Control Zone: 10 meters east, south, and west beyond the protected area.

(3) Xingfu Ancient Kiln Sites.

① Kilns near Xiaowangcun

Protected Area: East to the small path east of Kiln Mound No. 3 in Xiaowangcun, west to the stream, south to 10 meters beyond the edge of Kiln Mound No. 2 in Xiaowangcun, north to 10 meters beyond the edge of Kiln Mound No. 3 in Xiaowangcun.

Construction Control Zone: 10 meters east, south, and north beyond the protected area.

② Kilns near Dacun

Protected Area: East to 10 meters beyond the edge of Kiln Mound No. 3 in Dacun, west to 10 meters beyond the edge of Kiln Mound No. 1 in Dacun, south to 10 meters beyond the edge of Kiln Mound No. 2 in Dacun, north to 10 meters beyond the edge of Kiln Mound No. 4 in Dacun.

Construction Control Zone: 10 meters east, south, west, and north beyond the protected area.

③ Kiln Mound No. 5 in Dacun

Protected Area: 10 meters beyond the edge in all directions (east, south, west, north).

Construction Control Zone: 10 meters east, south, west, and north beyond the protected area.

(4) Shaocun Ancient Kiln Sites.

①Ancient Kiln Site in Fengtou Village

Protected Area: 10 meters beyond the edge of the kiln mounds in all directions — east, south, west, and north.

Construction Control Zone: 10 meters beyond the protected area in all directions — east, south, west, and north.

②Ancient Kiln Site in Duimen Village

Protected Area: 10 meters beyond the edge of Kiln Mound No. 4 in Duimen Village to the east, the village road to the south, 10 meters beyond the edge of Kiln Mound No. 3 in Duimen Village to the west, and the stone pond to the north.

Construction Control Zone: 10 meters beyond the protected area to the east and west.