Pingtan Island, a renowned coastal destination in Fujian Province, is famed for its mesmerizing "blue tears" and sweeping ocean views. Today, it is also home to a warm and inviting handcraft studio tucked inside a tranquil traditional stone house in the heart of the island. This is Xiaomo Pottery Studio, founded by Wu Meili—a post-90s artisan known as Xiaomo—who has transformed her passion for pottery into a fulfilling career within these timeworn stone walls.

Wu Meili once worked in Fuzhou in human resources and copywriting, but the rigid routine of office life left her feeling deeply unfulfilled. "I don't enjoy drawn-out tasks or passive coordination—I prefer to finish things efficiently and decisively," she said. Her turning point came in late 2018, when she began apprenticing at a pottery workshop in Fuzhou. Despite having no formal art training, she quickly demonstrated remarkable talent and dedication, mastering pottery skills at an impressive pace.

Later, while working as a pottery instructor in Zhejiang, Wu consistently outperformed expectations, often completing what others might take a week—or even two—in a single day. Encouraged by her former employer, who urged her not to let her talent go to waste, she decided to start her own pottery business.

The early days of entrepreneurship were far from easy. Her parents struggled to understand her decision, seeing pottery as a modest trade with limited prospects, and encouraged her to pursue a more stable career. With no financial backing, Wu rented a small street-side shop as her first studio. When customers were scarce, she spent long nights refining her craft; when there was no one to handle marketing, she promoted her work single-handedly on platforms such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu.

Just as she was wavering between renewing her lease and giving up, an unexpected opportunity emerged. A retired couple from Xinjiang, who had been living in Pingtan for years, connected with Wu through their shared love of pottery. They introduced her to the traditional stone house they had been renting and helped negotiate a long-term lease with favorable terms, easing much of her financial burden.

Wu renovated the house entirely on her own in just one month. She installed lighting and wiring, furnished the space, incorporated vintage decorative elements, and preserved the building's original rustic character. Today, Xiaomo Pottery Studio offers far more than pottery. It has evolved into a creative hub for diverse handcraft experiences, including silver jewelry making, wood carving, pixel bead art, and cloisonné enamel—an example of traditional intangible cultural heritage. The studio also hosts occasional workshops and provides customized handcraft services.

"I don't want this to be just a shop focused on profit," Wu said. "I hope people can slow down and feel a sense of calm when they come here."

The studio has since become a favorite among young travelers, who come to Pingtan not only for its coastal beauty and famous blue tears, but also for the chance to immerse themselves in a peaceful, hands-on creative experience. Wu continues to run the studio on her own, taking on every role—from teaching and production to marketing and customer service. Her journey has been demanding: carrying heavy clay, working late into the night, and enduring the uncertainty of slow business periods.

"It's exhausting, but it makes me truly happy," she said. "In the end, I'm simply living as myself."

Six years after her first encounter with pottery, Wu Meili has firmly rooted her dream in this traditional stone house—transforming natural talent into professional mastery, and passion into a sustainable way of life.