Coastal Color Clay Sculptures

Last updated 2026-11-15 — In Binhai County, the craft of sculpting color clay figures such as deities and theatrical opera masks remained popular until the end of the Qing Dynasty. After the liberation, craft factories were established in both Binhai and Xiangshui, specializing in the production of artisanal items. There are now over 90 new products, including traditional pieces like "Magpies Building the Bridge" (a scene of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl meeting) and "Fairy Scattering Flowers" inspired by Dunhuang murals. Other works based on real life—such as "Martial Arts with Fresh Flowers" and "Studying at Night"—are strikingly lifelike. The color clay crafts from the Binhai and Xiangshui areas are exported to countries and regions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, making them one of the major foreign trade products of Yancheng City.