Beijing: Cloisonné Workshop with Enamel Master

Discover the art of cloisonné in a private Beijing studio. Watch a master craftsman bend copper wire and apply enamel by hand, preserving a centuries-old tradition.
Find the door to a private atelier in a Beijing hutong. There’s no number or plaque, just a faded red couplet from last Spring Festival, peeling at the edges. Knock on the door and wait for it to open.

Enter the studio and sit beside a 62-year-old master who has spent 48 years perfecting the art of cloisonné. Watch as he picks up a thin copper wire and bends it into a curve, then another, then a petal shape. He holds it up to the light, squints, and adjusts it by a millimeter.

See the glaze pots, 27 of them, each a different color. Some are older than you. He dips a brush in water, touches it to the powder, and watches it absorb. Then, he applies the glaze, filling each copper cell with a slurry of color. His hand doesn’t shake.

After a while, he stops, puts down the brush, and turns to you for the first time. “This one will go into the kiln tomorrow. If the fire is right.” Ask if you can buy it when it’s done. He shakes his head. “Not ready yet.” Leave the studio and step out into the hutong.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.