A Special Encounter Between China and Africa | The Flame of Liling Porcelain Lights Up Africa

In Liling, Hunan, the kiln fires have burned for millennia, telling the story of porcelain’s enduring legacy.
In Tanzania, where kaolin clay meets its “soulmate,” INSUN has journeyed across oceans to extend the reach of Liling porcelain craftsmanship.

Now, this kaolin clay, having crossed the Indian Ocean, rests quietly at INSUN’s booth in the Africa Pavilion of the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, drawing curious gazes from visitors.

INSUN staff at the CEATE exhibition hall

“Zero tariffs, sharply reduced shipping costs, shorter delivery times, no labor worries.”At the expo, after introducing the advantages of INSUN’s African factory set to begin production this November, Shoy Zhou, head of INSUN’s overseas operations center, tucked yet another potential client’s business card into her notebook.
“Many of our peers are thrilled to hear about our factory in Africa because it means lower product costs,” she shared.

Since 2002, when INSUN established its factory in Liling to produce daily-use ceramics, the company has aimed at overseas markets.
“Porcelain is fragile, and tariffs can’t be ignored either,” explained Shoy Zhou. As sales expanded, the high cost of shipping became a growing burden.

The solution, ultimately, was found on the African continent.

“In 2012, we began distributing Liling-made ceramics through Tanzania,” said Yi Xianfeng, head of INSUN’s African ceramic factory project.
In his view, Tanzania offers natural geographical advantages, enabling better market access across Africa and into Europe.
Thus began the “Long March” of ceramics, forging deeper bonds between Liling porcelain and Africa.

“Tanzania’s climate, with temperatures mostly in the 20s (Celsius), is ideal for ceramic production.”A favorable environment, rich raw materials, vast market potential, and lower labor costs all pushed INSUN to accelerate plans for local manufacturing.
After more than a decade cultivating the African market, growing China-Africa cooperation strengthened the team’s determination to localize production in Africa.
“Much of the local infrastructure was built by Chinese companies. Once the roads were in place, our transport became much easier.”

African Tanzania factory project plan

In 2024, construction began on the first phase of INSUN’s African factory, with a planned daily output of 60,000 pieces. Yi Xianfeng led a team of 13 Chinese technical experts to Tanzania to provide on-site production guidance. INSUN became the first company in the region to take this bold step.

“Liling’s kiln fires have burned for over a thousand years, but bringing that ‘spark’ to Africa is a brand-new challenge.”Although Tanzania’s kaolin is a premium raw material for ceramics, its composition differs from the clay traditionally used in Liling.With over 30 years in ceramic production, Yi Xianfeng understands Liling craftsmanship deeply:
“The moment I touched the clay, I knew how to adjust it. Liling’s techniques, refined over the years, are highly adaptable to different raw materials.”

Starting with raw material adjustment, Yi Xianfeng and his team gradually infused Liling’s porcelain DNA into the Tanzanian soil.

“Local people mainly use coarse pottery in daily life, and ceramic production technology is underdeveloped with no skilled workforce,” Yi recalled of his first impressions of Tanzania’s ceramics industry.

As advanced Chinese ceramic equipment arrived at the INSUN African factory, employee training began in earnest.

“We’re not here to compete for jobs — we’re here to create jobs.”
From molding to glazing, INSUN offered systematic training at every stage, passing down centuries-old skills to Tanzanian workers, hand-in-hand.
“Now they have craftsmanship and stable income — wages are generally above the local average,” Yi noted. Of the factory’s 300+ employees, the vast majority are local, except for some managers.

Perfina brand ceramic tableware series exhibits

The flame of Liling now burns on African soil, warming hearts and lighting the path to shared development.

Tanzania once lacked a complete ceramics industry, but Chinese technology has unlocked its dormant resources.
For Chinese enterprises, African factories reduce production costs and open wider international markets.

“We plan to reach the entire African market within three years. Next year, we aim to build factories in more African countries, replicating this model in more places,” said Shoy Zhou, brimming with confidence as she witnesses the company’s growth.

Thus, the story of “Porcelain Connecting China and Africa” gains firmer roots — and endless possibilities.

Source: China Radio International online：www.cri.cn