Gaoling Shan (Kaolin Mountain)

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My friend Ding arranged a rental car to take my two students and JCI graduate student Lulu to Gaoling Mountain for a morning. In the small village, Dongbu, at the mountain base we heard there is now a small museum about the special kaolin clay. Excited to do research for my kaolin article.

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Photos

Gaoling Shan
Approaching the mountain range that includes Gaoling Shan (Kaolin Mountain)

Dongbu village
The small village of Dongbu is situated at one of the entrances to Gaoling Park. A quaint little village that once was a hub for transporting the kaolin clay from the mines to Jingdezhen.

Dongbu village
Off the small river used to exist piers for ships to dock awaiting their white cargo.

Dongbu village
A National Geographic 1920 photograph in the museum of the kaolin in boats.

Dongbu village
Street of Dongbu

Dongbu village
Kids playing in the streets of Dongbu

Dongbu village
Cucumbers sun-drying in a flat woven basket

Dongbu village
Kungfu kid in Dongbu village

Dongbu village
Cool passage that leads down to the river.

Dongbu village
Lulu posing for me in the peaceful village

Dongbu village
I could have spent the whole day wandering, absorbing and photographing. Ding ding wanted to keep us on task. I had to remind him that I was an artist and I was on my research mission. I could not hurry but needed to experience this place and look for the photographs I needed. He gave me 10 minutes!!!!!!!

Dongbu village
Dongbu village

Dongbu village
Dongbu village architecture.

Dongbu village
Dongbu village architecture detail.

Dongbu village
View from the small foot bridge that crosses the river. Beautiful setting.

Dongbu kaolin musuem
There is a new small kaolin museum in the town. Even our guide Ding ding did not know this existed. It was full of information, objects and both technical and aesthetic. Great information for my article. Here is their introduction board.

Dongbu kaolin musuem
Some samples of the kaolin in the mountain.

Dongbu kaolin musuem
A workers rain gear.

Dongbu kaolin musuem
The Donzi bricks. After the kaolin was removed from the mine it was put in washing pits. Heavy particles and impurities settle to the bottom. The finer kaolin was then drained to a lower pit for a second washing. Same process of draining to a third pit where it was then dried to a paste and pressed into the wood form making bricks called Dunzi.

Dongbu kaolin musuem
Tools used by the workers in the kaolin mines.

Dongbu kaolin musuem
Worker hauling Dunzi bricks in a wheelbarrow.

Comments

[Tina]

Timeless
You really know how to travel.

[Jeff Dahlin]

Thank You Gary!
Wonderful photos Gary.