As home to giant pandas, southwest China's Sichuan Province is never short of interesting stories between man and nature.

Wang Zhideng, a chronicler in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), mentioned in his book: "The yellow and black clay at Mount Shushan can be used for pottery." The "Mount Shushan" is now called Wawu Mountain in the southwestern Qionglai Mountains. Originating in Yingjing County, the tradition of making pottery from local yellow and black clay, or Yingjing Black Sand, dates back 2,300 years.

Before an exquisite piece of black sand pottery is born, it must be baptized and refined through a series of complex processes.

In 2008, the Yingjing pottery-making technique was included on the list of state-level intangible cultural heritage items.

For more:

Where Nature Meets Culture: From vibrant rainbow to iridescent rug

Where Nature Meets Culture: From fruit peel to medicinal ingredient

Where Nature Meets Culture: From toxic plant to precious paper

(Cover via CFP, designed by CGTN's Liu Shaozhen)