Get a sense of Pingyao's polished lacquer ware

The ancient city of Pingyao, Shanxi province has a history of polished lacquer ware that goes back to the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty (713-741), and later it became quite popular during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1644-1911).

It is made by hand with a complex process - preparing the wood, adding an ash base, lacquering, painting, and doing the inlay – resulting in an exquisite, heat and moisture resistant, durable work that can be appreciated and collected. The craft is a renowned heritage of Pingyao and was put on the State cultural heritage list in 2006.

A man works on a piece of Pingyao's polished lacquer. [Photo/Xinhua]

Two people work on a piece of Pingyao's polished lacquer. [Photo/Xinhua]