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The Liling Kiln in Hunan Province rose to prominence in the early 20th century for its modernisation of underglaze polychrome porcelain. This innovative ware, requiring three firings, represented a modern approach to underglaze colour decoration, durable and exceptionally refined. While blue and white pieces are often indistinguishable from Jingdezhen, the multi-coloured underglaze is distinctive and a hallmark of Liling production.

A driving force behind this innovation was Xiong Xiling (1870–1937), a Western Hunan native, late Qing reformist, and later premier of the Republic of China. In 1905, he traveled to Japan to study advanced porcelain techniques and, with funding from Empress Dowager Cixi, established the Hunan Ceramics Company in 1906. By 1908, he had developed a new underglaze polychrome porcelain, making Liling one of Hunan’s earliest modern industrial enterprises.

Liling porcelain gained international acclaim through exhibitions in China and abroad, culminating in the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, where it was awarded a gold medal and hailed as “the peak of oriental ceramic art,” even surpassing Jingdezhen in fame at the time. Production suffered during China’s political upheavals and ceased by 1930, but was revived in 1956 under government protection, ensuring the continuation of this celebrated modern craft.