Guanyin clay is a kind of kaolin, a clay mineral with montmorillonite as the main component, and its chemical composition is very stable. People cannot digest or excrete it after eating it. During times of famine, when some people really had nothing to eat, they would eat Guanyin soil.

Guanyin clay is also called kaolin, also known as bentonite, bentonite, sweet clay, bentonite, clay, and white clay. Guanyin soil is rich in silicon, zinc, magnesium, aluminum and other minerals. It is a clay mineral with quite stable chemical composition and is known as the "universal stone".

Guanyin clay is an important raw material for the body and glaze of ceramic products and clay refractory materials.

Guanyin soil has now become a common term for raw materials for porcelain making all over the world. In other words, "Guanyin Clay" has become the unified name for similar clays in the world. This is a great contribution of Chinese porcelain workers to the world.

Guanyin soil was used as food by hungry people during the three-year famine period, and eating it temporarily relieved hunger.