Yingko, a small township in the southwest of Taipei County, is not known for its beautiful scenery or historic relics, yet every week it attracts hundreds of visitors. They all come to appreciate the exquisite pottery made in the town, for Yingko is known as the ceramics capital of Taiwan.

Yingko occupies an area of 18.3 sq. km. and is reached only by narrow country roads or a local train. No express trains stop at Yingko's station, and the town is made even more remote because the roads leading to it are always jammed with large trucks bringing finished pottery out or taking raw materials in.

The first things to catch the visitor's eye are the smokestacks which dot the landscape and give the town a smoky atmosphere. In front of many of the houses are piled the raw materials for pottery, some in bags, some just scattered on the ground. Unfinished pieces of pottery lie around drying in the sun and wind, before they are glazed.

There are no signs, showrooms, or beautiful saleswomen usually associated with such production facilities. The visitor must travel far past the gate to find the area where the work is done.

Whether the pottery is made from molds or formed by hand, the sound of machinery is seldom heard. Perhaps the loudest noise is the sound of people talking.

Pottery workers can roughly be divided into two categories: artisans and seasonal workers. The former perform the more technical tasks, such as shaping the clay, placing the clay into molds, and applying the glaze. The latter carry out the simpler jobs such as opening molds, applying decals, and adding the finishing touches. Most of the seasonal workers are housewives or youths. They are joined by high school and college students during summer and winter vacations, which are the busiest seasons in the factories. For the students, this is good on-the-job training, and also an opportunity to earn up to NT$500 (US$12.50) per day.

Many visitors to Yingko wonder how the ceramics industry was first established there. According to Taipei County records, the first pottery works were opened during the Chiaching reign of the Ching dynasty (1796-1820) by three men from Chuanchou County in Fukien Province, Wu An, Wu Tang, and Wu Tseng. But it was not until the period from 1949 to 1950 when all communications with mainland China were cut, that the need for Yingko pottery really became acute and business began to pick up.

Head administrator of Yingko township, Chen Pi-sung, further explained that the clay found in Yingko is not of very high quality, nor plentiful (although abundant supplies can be found at nearly Sanchia.) He feels the main reason the ceramics industry sprung up in the town is the abundance of coal. Pottery must be fired at high temperatures, up to 1300℃, and therefore a large supply of fuel is essential.

There is no other industry in Yingko apart from ceramics, and the 400 or so pottery factories make up about 70 percent of the total island-wide. Products include utility items such as cups, bowls, and plates; building materials such as bricks, floor tiles, and bathroom tiles; gifts such as dolls and wind chimes; and artistic ceramics.

Currently, 80 percent of all products made in Yingko are used in the construction industry. This section of the ceramics industry is the most mechanized, with some factories being fully automated several years ago.

Yingko's main attractions for visitors, however, are the factories producing artistic ceramics, especially copies of Chinese art treasures. The first factory to turn out artistic ceramics was set up by Hsu Tse-jan in 1972.

Hsu hired craftsmen from the immediate area, some of whom had up to 30 years experience, and supplemented their knowledge with experts from Hong Kong. In this way, he avoided many costly mistakes and also ensured the finished products were both beautiful and natural looking.

The biggest problem faced by Yingko factories now is a lack of creative talent, since few new designs are being produced. One reason is that most of the factories are small family owned and operated enterprises. Even some of the large-scale factories have no research facilities.

On the other hand, copies of traditional items copied in Yingko have reached a high level of excellence.

Professor of industrial art at the National Taiwan Normal University, Wu Jang-nung, commented that manufacturing and glazing techniques are of a high standard. He added that ceramics made in Yingko are hard to distinguish from the originals, and so to avoid confusion, are not stamped on the bottom with imperial seals.

While a lack of new designs is temporarily a problem, residents are optimistic about Yingko's future. During the long history of ceramics manufacturing in the town, a large reserve of experience, equipment and skills has been built up.

[Picture Caption]

1. Smoke stacks of every type and variation are one of Yingko's unique traits. 2. Pottery drying by the railroad tracks. 3. Yingko's name (Oriole's Song) was derived from these rocks. 4. These fronds gently rustling in the autumn breeze add life to Yingko.

1. These old brick kilns have not been used for years. 2. Yingko is now a distribution center for area coal. 3. After the introduction of natural gas, local coal merchants fell on hard times. 4. This wall can no longer offer shelter to people but it is of great interest to these children. 5. Factories often put unfinished pieces by the road to dry.

1. Porcelain dolls made for export. 2. Wind chimes. 3. A safe place to hide from dogs. 4. Funerary urns glistening in the sunlight. 5. Hsu Chi-chuan has been making pottery for 30 years. 6. Applying glaze to a vase. 7. These elegant vases are one of the most popular shapes in Yingko.

1. The Yingko train station. 2. A child sitting on now unused railroad tracks. 3. Beautiful temple roof tiles. 4. A peaceful lane. 5. Tahan Creek used to be navigated by sailboats carrying supplies and goods, now it is almost dry. 6. Bricks, a red door, and green leaves in the afternoon sun. 7. This boy is fascinated by these tea pots. 8. Children often play here.

Pottery drying by the railroad tracks.

Yingko's name （Oriole's Song） was derived from these rocks.

These fronds gently rustling in the autumn breeze add life to Yingko.

These old brick kilns have not been used for years.

Yingko is now a distribution center for area coal.

After the introduction of natural gas, local coal merchants fell on hard times.

This wall can no longer offer shelter to people but it is of great interest to these children.

Factories often put unfinished pieces by the road to dry.

Porcelain dolls made for export.

Wind chimes.

A safe place to hide from dogs.

Funerary urns glistening in the sunlightn.

Hsu Chi-chuan has been making pottery for 30 years.

Applying glaze to a vase.

These elegant vases are one of the most popular shapes in Yingko.

The Yingko train station.

A child sitting on now unused railroad tracks.

Beautiful temple roof tiles.

A peaceful lane.

Tahan Creek used to be navigated by sailboats carrying supplies and goods, now it is almost dry.

Bricks, a red door, and green leaves in the afternoon sun.

This boy is fascinated by these tea pots.

Children often play here.

Most face painting is done by the performers themselves.