It is hard to believe that in the 21st century there are still people making art in a "primitive" fashion.
A trip to Jinshan Peasant Painting Academy tells the story.
In a simple, plain workshop, the birthplace of Jinshan Black Pottery, four workers are deeply absorbed in the job at hand.
They all seemed to be so concentrated on what they were doing that nothing could distract their attention.
In the extreme quiet, one could only hear the monotonous "zzz" noise that came out from the pottery wheel, the only modern invention in the room.
It was really difficult to link the beautiful handicrafts to these ordinary farm workers.
The molding worker, a young man from Henan Province, has been doing the job for 12 years.
Skillful as he is, it only takes him about 20 minutes to make a vase. He did the same thing one after another, without a pause.
At first, he smacks a lump of clay onto the machine that spins at a high speed. He then pulls the clay up from bottom to top several times until an ideal wall thickness and general shape is obtained.
The completed shapes are then required to be set aside in a shady, cool place to dry long enough until they are ready to be decorated and glazed.
The other workers at the pottery are all Jinshan natives from nearby villages. They are responsible for engraving patterns on the dried molds and then to polish and glaze them.
"I have been working here for more than 10 years," said 30-something Xia Cuizhen. "I work six days a week, everyday from 7:30am to 4pm."
Besides her job, she also works on the farm each day when she goes back home in the late afternoon.
According to Ruan Zhangyun, the academy's vice director and also the pioneer of Jinshan Black Pottery, the academy always believes in the art talents and creativity of the peasants.
Located to the southwest of the city, Jinshan has always been known as one of the original places of Shanghai.  The district's Tinglin Town is home to the relics of Liangzhu Culture (around 3310-2250 BC).
The late Neolithic culture (around 10000-4000 BC), first discovered in Liangzhu Town in Yuhang City, Hangzhou Province, was well known      for the high quality and number of refined jade artifacts and carved black pottery vessels that have been discovered.
As early as in 1992, after the huge success of Jinshan Peasant Painting around the country as well as around the world, Ruan, together with his co-workers, thought of another art form which would even better represent their home town - black pottery.
"Many people like the peasant paintings because of the creative designs and the bright colors vividly represent the everyday life of the working people," Ruan said. "Black pottery well illustrates the history of Jinshan."
The designs of the pottery are mostly based on objects found in Liangzhu Culture relics in the district, including pots, bowls, plates and vases.
The academy borrowed the originals from the Shanghai Museum and then reduced their size in proportion.
To create the pieces, the clay is first dug from local farmlands, rinsed twice in special pools and then kneaded by hand. The finished product is stored carefully to ensure it is fine, smooth and moist.
To retain the features of the ancient black pottery, the academy insists on baking potteries in a man-made kiln away from the workshop in the countryside of Zhujin Town, where the academy is located.
"Such a kiln is not allowed to be built in the town as it uses firewood which causes air pollution," Ruan said.
The potteries have to be placed in the kiln for about a week, including three days of firing and four days to let them cool.
The small kiln can only hold about 200 pieces. In addition, not every piece survives. Some crack or warp while during firing.
"The wastage ratio is high," Ruan said. "However, we don't expect to make money out of it."
According to Ruan, the average sales revenue of the potteries is about 200,000 yuan (US$24,096) annually, merely meeting expenditures.
"Our pottery is all hand-made. Every piece is unique and different from the other," he emphasized.
To let more people know about Jinshan Black Pottery, the academy has opened a counter in Shanghai Yuyuan Market Arts and Crafts Co Ltd (Hua Bao Lou) in Chenghuang Temple.
Jinshan Pottery Plate Painting, a black pottery      plate with peasant painting     on it, is sold there.