The capital of porcelain in China - Jingdezhen

Jinddezhen, a city located just outside the jurisdiction of Huangshan Municipality in the north-eastern part of Jiangxi Province has been regarded as the country's porcelain capital for over a thousand years. Situated in a small basin rich in kaolin (fine white clay used in manufacture of porcelain), the area is hemmed in by mountains and covered with forests necessary for firewood.

With all the natural elements needed located close by, people began to preduce ceramics there as early as 1,800 years ago during the Eastern Han Dynasty and the industry developed rapidly duing Ming and Qing dynasties. As porcelain became a more valuable and sought out commodity, the skills for making it were gradually perfected and the quality became more refined, and government-owned kiln were set up to cater exclusively to the need of the imperial house. The artists and craftsman in Jingdezhen were renowned throughout the country for their talent and creativity, and numerous masterpieces were designed there.


Jingdezhen porcelain can be identified by four unique features: it is wite like jade, bright as a mirror, thin as paper, and sounds like a bell chime when tapped. In and around Jingdezhen, tourists can find many sites related to the area's porcelain culture as well as learning the process and techniques or buying some of the porcelain.

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