The art was born during the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that Zhang Mingshan would hide a lump of clay in his sleeve during casual conversations, and within moments he could produce a tiny figurine that perfectly captured the person he was talking to.
Today, artisans use local clay and follow a long process of pounding, shaping, firing, and painting. The sculptures range from tiny street vendors to grand opera scenes, and every detail is full of life and expression.
At Zhang Yu's gallery-like store, visitors can view a permanent display of more than 100 representative clay figurines — from antiques created by Zhang Mingshan to Zhang Yu's contemporary works — and can also attend workshop sessions to learn how to make the figurines themselves.
To draw young buyers, modern-day Niren Zhang has broken away from its "old-fashioned" image. Many stores now offer playful, youthful clay figures, such as cute cartoon characters — small and delicate, with a contemporary twist. They are like the desktop decorations of 100 years ago, reborn as trendy collectibles that perfectly match young tastes.
A colorful woodblock print or a tiny clay figurine — whether you choose traditional masterpieces or light, fun modern souvenirs, you won't need a huge suitcase.
Simply pack them up and bring home a piece of Tianjin's culture and history.
