The porcelain palace in Xinping village close to Jingdezhen, East China's Jiangxi province, Sept 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

It inspired her to create her own porcelain palace in Jingdezhen.

"Jingdezhen is well known as China's porcelain capital, but there was not a palace in the capital. I wanted to build one here and leave something in the history of the city," she said. The palace also serves as a museum for Yu to exhibit her personal collection.

She started in 2010, at the age of 80. She not only designed the palace, but even moved into a small house near the construction site, living there for five years to oversee the building process.

She used almost all her savings, about seven million yuan ($1 million) and even had to sell her jewelry and some of her precious porcelain artworks to fund the project. But she has no regrets.

"Time waits for no one. I fear that when I pass away, no one will finish this. Completing the palace and seeing that my precious porcelain collection has a place is a dream comes true. My life is full," Yu said.

Now the palace is complete, it is open to the public for an admission fee of 25 yuan ($3.7), and has attracted many people.

"I wish everyone can appreciate the charm and beauty of porcelain here," Yu said.

Jiang Qin, a tourist, said the palace was splendid but what moved him most was the old lady's love and passion for porcelain.

A second palace is also under construction close to the first one. It is expected to be completed next year.

Known as the Porcelain Capital, Jingdezhen's history of porcelain-making spans back 1,700 years. The city's unique clay resources and time-honored craftsmanship make it a mecca for porcelain admirers and tourists alike.