Huishan Clay Figurines: A Lump of Black Mud Shaped into the Auspicious ‘Da A Fu’

Huishan clay figurines are the best-known folk art of Wuxi, a city on the shores of Lake Taihu in eastern China. Shaped from the fine black clay dug from the foot of Huishan, these Huishan clay figurines have delighted visitors for more than four hundred years and are now protected as a national intangible cultural heritage. For travellers, they are a charming, pocket-sized introduction to the warmth and craftsmanship of the Jiangnan region.

Figure 1. The iconic ‘Da A Fu’, the best-loved Huishan clay figurine: a plump, smiling child hugging a green lion, Wuxi’s city mascot

What Are Huishan Clay Figurines, Anyway?

Huishan clay figurines are hand-modelled, painted clay sculptures, not cheap mass-produced toys. Local craftsmen dig the dark, plastic clay from the northeast slope of Huishan, knead it, mould it and then hand-paint every piece in bright, bold colours. According to the official China Intangible Cultural Heritage database, the art dates back at least to the Ming dynasty.

The ancient Compendium of Ancient and Modern Books already recorded how refined these figurines had become by the Ming period. In May 2006, the craft was inscribed on the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, securing its status as a national treasure.

The Lucky Story of Da A Fu

The most beloved of all Huishan clay figurines is Da A Fu, a plump, smiling child hugging a green lion, barefoot and cross-legged. Folk legend says the figure is based on a kind legendary boy who tamed a wild beast that once terrorised the village, and today Da A Fu has become Wuxi's own mascot — a symbol of blessings, harmony and good fortune. You will spot him on souvenirs, posters and street corners throughout the old town.

Figure 2. A Huishan ‘fine goods’ hand-kneaded opera scene, Pinggui Bieyao, with opera figures shaped entirely by hand

Rough Goods and Fine Goods

Huishan clay figurines fall into two families. The 'rough goods' (cuohuo) are mould-formed and hand-painted, festive and simple — Da A Fu, silkworm cats and longevity gods among them. The 'fine goods' (xihuo), also called hand-kneaded opera scenes, use no mould at all: artists pinch opera characters from Kunqu and Peking opera directly between their fingers, capturing every gesture. As Guangming Daily noted, this living tradition now reaches into schools and communities across Wuxi.

A Factory Turned Museum

In 1958 the Wuxi Huishan Clay Figurine Factory was set up to safeguard the craft, and in 2012 it was named a China Time-honoured Brand. In 2011, built on the old factory site inside Huishan Old Town, the China Clay Figurines Museum opened — the first museum of its kind in China — displaying Huishan work alongside other schools of painted sculpture. National inheritors such as Yu Xianglian run studios nearby, where you can watch a figure take shape in minutes.

Figure 3. The China Clay Figurines Museum in Wuxi’s Huishan Old Town, built on the former site of the Huishan Clay Figurine Factory

Visiting Huishan Clay Figurines Today

Huishan Old Town sits a short taxi or metro ride from central Wuxi, within easy reach of Jichang Garden and the famous Second Spring. Wander the flagstone lanes, drop into a clay studio to paint your own Da A Fu, and time your visit for a calm spring or autumn morning, when the ancient alleys are at their most charming.

The China Clay Figurines Museum is the ideal first stop, since it lays out the whole history before you meet the working studios nearby. Wuxi media recounts how the old mascot was revived, and today the figurines also travel abroad for exhibitions, carrying this Wuxi folk art to audiences well beyond Jiangsu.

From a handful of black river mud to a national heritage treasure, Huishan clay figurines tell the quiet, joyful story of a city that still smiles through its art. Whether you take home a painted Da A Fu or simply watch the artists at work, these charming figures make an unforgettable keepsake of your time in Wuxi.