Clay figurine is a type of traditional Chinese folk art. It combines sculpting and painting to make a beautiful end product. This method dates back to the Shang Dynasty over 3,500 years ago, when artisans used simple and cheap materials to make small and delicate clay figurines. Nowadays, the handicraft has developed into a kind of folk art appreciated by people from around the world.

Yesterday afternoon, I paid a visit to a clay figurine shop lying on the second floor of Baigong Handicraft Museum. There were a large variety of colorful, interesting clay figurines on display in this two-room shop.

Two showy Peking Opera figurines caught my eye. One was Mu Guiying, a famous heroine of the Song Dynasty. The other was Yang Guifei, a famous beauty of the Tang Dynasty. They wore colorful Peking Opera costumes. Each of them was mounted in a picture frame, and priced at RMB 60.

For casual gifts, you may find small vivid clay animals like dog, horse, or tiger for RMB 25 appealing. Prices are fixed, and generally not on sale.

What I appreciated

Exquisite clay figurines, reasonable prices

What customers appreciate

Chinese folk art, distinguished craftsmanship