In the belly of the dragon

Dragon Kiln, or Long Yao, is a unique type of kiln for ceramic production often found in southern China.

Usually built along the steep slope of a hill, the kiln spreads long and thin upward, like a dragon crouching on the hill, with its head at the bottom and tail tilting at the top.

Qianshu Dragon Kiln is 43.5 meters long and sits on a human-made slope. Inside is a long-arched tunnel space with 42 holes on either side, through which firewood is thrown in. On the western side are five larger holes where people step in to place objects needing to be baked, the entrances so small that a grown-up needs to bend down to get in.

Fire is lit from the bottom, where the dragon head was supposed to rest. When it is not in use, a small pool of water is always kept.

"Folklore has it that the dragon delights in having a bit of water near its head," Zhao says.