We Tried A Pottery Class At The Dragon Kiln Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle Singapore

We headed to the last functioning dragon kiln in Singapore over at Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle to learn the art of ceramic pottery. Built in the 1940s, this place oozes with charm. As you step in, you’ll be greeted with rows and rows of ceramics and of course the 27 metre long Dragon Kiln.

While you might not find your Patrick Swayze-Demi Moore moment like in the romance-thriller film Ghost, you will however walk away with handcrafted pottery pieces and a new found appreciation for your plates. 

#Klookfunfact: The temperature of the kiln can go up to 1,300°C in the "head" and 1,000°C in the "tail"

Address: No. 85 Lorong Tawas via Cleantech View, Singapore 639823

How To Get There By bus: From Boon Lay Interchange, take bus 199 and alight at the 6th bus stop (Bef Lor Danau, Nanyang Avenue). Walk across Jurong Eco Park and you will see the pottery factory.

You will need to pre-book a workshop before heading down. They do not have workshops daily and only have instructors around on days classes are scheduled. Choose between the hand-building or hand building and pottery wheel experience where you’ll get to bring home 1 fired piece. 

We started off the lesson watching a demonstration of the potter’s wheel! Our instructor Stella was extremely skilled and very patient in explaining to us the different steps required to throw a good piece of ceramic. 

We were then handed an apron and got the opportunity to try it out for ourselves! We chose to make a bowl. Stella gave us plenty of guidance along the way, from shaping the clay to building it up and down. This is definitely beginner friendly! 

After that, you’ll get your very own handcrafted bowl! You can choose to have this fired as well at an additional cost which you can just pay for during your visit. 

Next up, try out hand building! This is the easier option and with the white clay given, you can make anything you want from planters to cups and bowls. 

This is also where you’ll get to paint your creation before it gets fired in the electric kiln. You can then collect your finished product in 3-4 weeks time. 

After you’re done with your workshop, head into the Dragon Kiln and have a look before you leave! This long, cylindrical kiln is said to resemble the shape of a dragon, and it hisses, bellows, and spits smoke as it works.

This long kiln can fire up to 4000 pieces at 1 time and while it used to be fired multiple times a month, now the kiln is only fired 3-4 times a year. Many artists bring their works to be fired 

There is also a huge collection of ceramics that you can take home! From noodle bowls to planters and even huge vases you’ll be spoilt for choice.