Subject to location and available resources, the cultural industry on the characteristic Zhaotong is in the process of development, according to Chuncheng Evening News.

Zhaotong, located in the northeast corner of Yunnan province, has been an important thoroughfare for culture from the central plains to enter Yunnan. In addition, Zhaotong is one of the three birthplaces of early Yunnan culture and is a major city on the Silk Road.

Purple clay teapot produced in Zhaotong [Photo/Chuncheng Evening News]

The purple clay teapots from Zhaotong are unique and welcomed. Early this century, silver sand sedimentary rocks with a history of more than 400 million years were found in Zhaotong. After their discovery, local residents started to use them to make pots. The purple clay teapots produced in Zhaotong have now become more and more popular among pottery collectors and tea lovers.

Handmade wool carpet [Photo/Chuncheng Evening News]

The handmade Zhaotong wool carpet also has a long history. In the 1980s, wool carpets were exported to different countries and regions including Japan and Korea. Due to the complicated nature of producing the carpets by hand, only about 3,000 square meters of carpet are produced in Zhaotong every year.

Jinsha rare stone [Photo/Chuncheng Evening News]

Zhaotong is also famous for its Jinsha rare stone. The Jinsha River in Zhaotong is about 458 kilometers long and containins more than 100 species of rare stones. According to statistics, there are more than 1,000 rare stone businesses operating in Zhaoting households with an annual output value of more than 90 million yuan ($14.54 million).

Edited by Jacob Hooson