A photo shows an artist hand-firing "black pottery" in Yingjing county, Sichuan province. The "black pottery" is made from unique clay found in the area, and the art of making this pottery was included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage items in 2008. [Photo/CRIENGLISH.com]

Yingjing county, Sichuan province is known for its handcrafted earthenware pottery that has a history of over 2,000 years. The silvery-grey vessels, fired in a traditional kiln, are made from special clay found in Yingjing county mixed with local coal ash. This "black pottery" is famous for its ability to keep food fresh, and the art of making the pottery was included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage items in 2008.