Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle, Singapore Overview

The Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle is a pottery studio and home to the oldest surviving dragon kiln in Singapore, located near Jurong Eco Park in West Singapore. Built in the 1940s, this studio hosts regular workshops for the whole family on pottery, archery, soap making, painting, and the art of wood-firing. Set in a quiet, rustic atmosphere, Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle is well worth a visit for anyone who wants to experience what Singapore used to be like before the trend of development and industrialisation set in.

The piece de resistance of Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle – the seventy-year-old Chinese dragon kiln – is 36 metres long, and shaped like a dragon. Built with strong bricks, the kiln is fired up a few times a year, enveloping up to 5000 ceramic pots in a river of fire and ash that produces an inimitably unique and colourful glaze. This traditional Chinese kiln is typical of the Teochew group and is a cultural icon. A variety of handmade ceramics are sold at the studio – from tiles, pots, vases, tea sets, and many more - and patrons have the opportunity to customize them too!

Facts About Dragon Kiln at Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle

The nearly 70-year-old Dragon Kiln is the major attraction at the Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle.
Built in the 1940s, it is one of the oldest surviving Dragon Kilns in Singapore.
36 meters long and nearly 2 meters wide, it can hold almost 5000 ceramic pieces inside.
Fired by timber through various openings, which are known as the 'dragon eyes,' this Kiln takes nearly 30 hours to be fired up completely.
The firing of this huge Kiln takes place 3-4 times a year and is a sight to behold. During the firing procedure, the pots are dipped in a river of fire and the ashes react with the glaze to produce stunning colours and incredible textures. This results in exceptional pieces that have a blush of flame in them. Such pieces cannot be manufactured by gas and electric kilns and this is what sets them apart.
Dragon Kilns were earlier used to mass-produce cups and wares for household and industrial use. Nowadays, the Dragon Kiln is used to provide a platform to artists and potters and promote appreciation and admiration for the endangered art of wood-firing.
The Dragon Kiln is also significant as a cultural icon which is used to make the younger generations appreciative of their traditions and heritage.

The Historical Dragon Kiln Tour

This tour involves exploring majestic Dragon Kiln at Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle, which is one of the oldest in Singapore. The guide informs the visitors about the long history of the Dragon Kiln and Thow Kwang while taking them on a walk through the Kiln itself. Visitors are also shown a live demonstration of the potter's wheel. This tour usually lasts for around 20 minutes.

Workshops at Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle

The Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle hosts various workshops about the potter's wheel, firing, and glazing. Some of the most popular workshops are the I love Pottery Workshop and the Public Workshops which include Clay Day and Soap Dish x Soap Making Workshop. The Pottery x Archery Workshops are very unique as they include not only visiting the Dragon Kiln but also trying a hand at archery. A range of group workshops are also held on the Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle premises. These include Ikebana Workshops, Parent Child Bonding Workshops, Children and Adult Pottery Workshops, and a Dragon Kiln Workshop, where participants can fire their own art pieces in the Dragon Kiln. Most of these workshops include walking through the Dragon Kiln (when it is not fired up), live demonstrations of the potter's wheel, hand building and a glazing session.

How to Reach Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle

Car: Visitors have to take PIE from the city, EXIT 36 Jalan Bahar and turn right. Then, turn left to Nanyang Avenue and travel 1 km turn left again to Clean Tech View.

Bus: Visitors can take Bus No. 199 from Boon Lay Interchange and alight at the 6th bus stop ( Bef Lor Danau, Nanyang Avenue) which will take around 20 minutes. Then, walk across Jurong Eco Park which should take around 7 minutes.