Yixing, pronounced "ee shing", located on the west bank of Lake Tai about 200 kilometers from Shanghai in Jiangsu Province, is home to teapots that are especially prized in this country of tea aficionados. The unpretentious little unglazed pots in earth tones are made from the region's special clay known as
zisha. Tea fanciers will use one pot for just one kind of tea and the pots become heirlooms; after many years of use, it is said that tea will be brewed simply by pouring water into the pot. After a friend presented us with our own pot, my husband and I set off on a weekend jaunt in search of more.
We made a leisurely overnight trip out of it, and were glad we did. A visit to Yixing could be condensed into one day but, especially given the unpredictable delays in getting in and out of Shanghai traffic, an overnight stay is preferable. We did our poking around on our own, in our own car, but you may prefer to hire a highly recommended guide to take you around:
