Make your own crafts in Rongchang

Head west from Chongqing to Rongchang for a hands-on craft trip. You can throw your own pot in Antao Pottery Town, watch weavers spin natural cloth, and stroll through an old river town.

Pick the right route for your trip

A Rongchang route links three main spots: Antao Pottery Town, Grass Cloth Town, and Wanling Ancient Town. Each stop sits in a different part of the district, so decide what you want to make before you set out.

Book your pottery workshop first so your day has a clear start time. Then build your travel around that slot. If rainy weather rolls in, both the pottery studios and cloth halls offer easy indoor cover. If you prefer ancient stone carvings and grand history instead, look at our Dazu Rock Carvings guide.

Get your hands messy with pottery in Antao

Antao Pottery Town (安陶小镇) sits in the Anfu area of Rongchang. Potters have worked these clay beds for centuries. Today you can walk along the stone paving of Taobao Old Street (陶宝古街), drop into working studios, and visit the Rongchang Pottery Museum (荣昌陶博物馆).

At the workshops, you can make your own clay pieces alongside local potters. Message a studio ahead of time to lock in your date. Tell them what you want to make during your visit.

Keep your first project small and simple. Decide if you want to shape soft clay by hand or spin it on an electric wheel.

Fresh clay must dry slowly and bake in a hot kiln before it is ready. Ask the studio how many days this takes. Find out if you can pick it up later or if they can mail it to your home address. If you need a gift for your flight home, buy a finished piece right from the shop shelf instead. Ask the clerk to wrap it in thick bubble wrap so it survives your suitcase.

Watch plant stems turn into woven cloth

Grass Cloth Town (夏布小镇) shows off a very different skill. Head straight to the China Grass Cloth Museum (中国夏布博物馆). It tells the story of ramie, a tough green plant whose inner fibres can be peeled and spun into cool summer fabric. You can see how local weavers turn these coarse plants into airy cloth.

Walk through the display rooms to trace every step from plant harvest to finished loom. Feel the cloth samples on the shop counters, but always ask before touching fragile museum displays or snapping photos inside. A lightweight ramie scarf folds flat and packs without any risk of breaking.

The area also has a folding fan experience venue. Choose a fan or cloth session if that interests you, and arrange the session for your date. A museum visit, demonstration and hands-on lesson are different ways to spend the afternoon.

Spend the night for river views and warm food

A two-day stay gives each place time. Shape a small clay piece on the first morning, visit Grass Cloth Town in the afternoon, and enjoy dinner in Rongchang. Walk through Wanling Ancient Town (万灵古镇) the next day before returning to Chongqing.

Wanling has old streets, Darong Bridge (大荣桥) and buildings linked to the area's history of migration. Walk at your own pace, stop for tea and leave time for the return trip. It is about 12 kilometres from central Rongchang, so arrange a separate ride.

Take time to sit down for Rongchang goose (荣昌卤鹅) and wide sheet noodles (荣昌铺盖面). These are Rongchang staples. The goose is tender and rich, while the noodles come pulled thin like a blanket in spicy broth. Check our food guide to match meals to your taste.

Pick your bed after you know your route. A hotel in the downtown district puts you near dinner spots and fast taxi rides. A guesthouse in Wanling lets you walk peaceful lanes before day-trippers arrive. Ask your host about the exact drop-off point so you do not carry bags up stone stairs.

Map your rides and save your stops

High-speed trains run from Chongqing to Rongchang North Railway Station (荣昌北站). You can check times and pick your seats on China Railway 12306. Check which station in Chongqing you leave from, your arrival time, and your ride back. Remember that the train station is outside the craft areas, so plan your next ride right away.

A hired car with a driver works best for groups seeing multiple towns. Write down your pickup time, the workshop door, each town stop, and your ride home. If you travel solo, a fast train ride followed by local app-based cars works well. Our ride-hailing guide shows you how to book cars on your phone.

Show these Chinese names to your driver or paste them into map apps:

Save the workshop's own map pin and entrance instructions. The craft town name takes you to the area; the studio pin takes you to your lesson.

Practical planning for different travellers

Solo travellers: The potter’s hand movements show you how to shape the clay.

Families: Check age rules for the pottery wheels, how long the class runs, and if stools adjust for kids. Focus on one craft so kids do not tire out, and take breaks for cool drinks. Our family travel guide shares helpful tips for visiting the wider region.

Groups: Make sure the studio has enough wheels and helpers for everyone to work at once. A group class is only fun if no one spends the hour standing in the back waiting for a turn.

Travellers with access needs: Ask about step-free paths from the taxi drop-off to the work table, as well as bathroom access. Wanling features steep stone steps and uneven riverbanks that can be tough for wheelchairs and strollers. Read our accessible travel guide to help plan your questions.

Our November guide helps you pair the craft trip with other late-autumn experiences.