The opening ceremony of 2002 China (Zibo) International Ceramics Exposition and International New Material Technology Forum was held August 31, 2002 in Zibo, eastern China’s Shandong Province. Jointly sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Engineering, China Association of Industrial Economy, China Association of Ceramic Industry and the provincial government of Shandong, the exposition will last five days, and over 100 ceramic experts from Japan, Korea, Germany, Russia will participate in the forum.
Situated in central Shandong, Zibo is a city that has been known as the “Capital of Ceramics” since the ancient time. The ceramic culture in Zibo harks back to the Neolithic Houli Culture about 8,000 years ago. According to history books, ceramics making in this area experienced the transition from pottery to porcelain in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-581), and the Song (960-1279) and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties saw its heyday of development.
Even today ceramics making is Zibo’s pillar industry. Apart from producing ceramics for industrial use, unique ceramics carving works and inner painting bottles in Zibo enjoy great prestige both at home and abroad. The home-made 5-meter-high “Chinese Dragon” Century Vase, with a weight of 5.2 tons and a diameter of 2.2 meters, is glazed with rare vanadium-blue and fired at a temperature of 1,300 degree C. Application by the Zibo city government is under way for this work entering Guinness World Records as the biggest ceramic ware.
China Ceramics Hall made its debut the same time. Covering an exhibition area of 4,000 square meters and showcasing over 2,000 ceramic articles for daily use and works of art made at different historic periods, China Ceramics Hall is the largest ceramics museum in China in terms of both space and collection. The collection covers a wide time span of over 8,500 years from the Neolithic Houli Culture to the present time.
Other activities during the 5-day ceramics exposition include:
Foreign Economic & Trade Negotiation Meeting.
Live Performance of Famous Figures and Exhibition of Works by “Chinese Master of Ceramic Arts & Crafts.”
First National Art Competition and Performance of Ceramics Carving.
International Scientific and Technological Achievements Negotiation Meeting.
Fair of Ceramics Products.
Auction of Ceramic Works of Art.
(china.org.cn by staff reporter Shao Da, September 2, 2002)
