Heard of 'Fine China'? Discover the City Behind the Name

Discover the birthplace of fine China

Originally posted on Caixin Global.

The clink of fine porcelain rings like a resonant bell to the ear; the colored paint shines as bright as a mirror, and the delicate ceramic clay is as thin as paper. This is what you’re told while you’re holding Jingdezhen porcelain in your hands for the first time.

Everything about the porcelain shops in this ancient city ooze refinement and elegance. A single traditional “chicken cup” — a basic cup with chickens painted around the circumference — from the Ming Dynasty can sell for more than 200 million yuan (US$30.52 million). As you walk through the ancient kilns of Jingdezhen, fragments of chipped porcelain glitter in the dirt in various patterns and colors associated with different dynasties: the blue and white intricacies of the Song Dynasty and the famille rose hues of the Qing.

During bygone dynasties (as the Han Dynasty from 221–206 BC), the hidden kilns of Jingdezhen fired up Chinese porcelain for the emperor’s court. Over the course of centuries, the glistening porcelain has become an iconic reminder of the heights of imperial splendor: where fine craftsmanship meets high art, the balance of science and aesthetics that has long been a signature asset of Chinese civilization. Back in the day, artisans would make hundreds of replicas for the emperor to choose one or two of his favorites. The rest were then destroyed. No one else deserved to have such exquisite ceramic objects.

An ancient dragon kiln. This type of kiln was developed for Chinese ceramics and originated in the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 B.C.).

Have you ever wondered where the term “fine china” came from? Mystery solved: these illustrious ceramics from Jingdezhen made it all the way to the royal castles of Europe, where they were named for their country of origin.

Today, Jingdezhen is the ideal destination for anyone fascinated by the long-lost days of imperial splendor and interested in the art of porcelain. 

A new interpretation of porcelain: Ancient mixed with modern pottery. 

And the influence of ceramics in this city isn’t just a relic of the past. Located in what was once an old, burnt-out factory complex, the Tao Xichuan Creative Park is one of the hippest ceramics-centered art districts in all of China, with rows of small stands where university students sell their creations alongside master craftsmen.

The ceramics students display a wide variety of irresistible curios: jade coffee mugs adorned with lotus flowers, whimsical statues of the Guanyin Buddha with oversized heads, and avant-garde earrings that dangle from the display case. If you’re interested in buying a piece, a 20-something artist will take a brief break from playing games on her smartphone to talk with you about her art and package up the piece with the love that only an artist can show for her little masterpieces.

As you leave Jingdezhen, you’ll no doubt take a piece of this city with you, either in the form of actual porcelain or as a cherished memory of the first time you held the cool-to-the-touch object in your hands. As you say your parting words, your local guide will want to tell you of a saying they have in this part of China: “In heaven there are stars. There should be something on Earth to resemble them. That’s why we have porcelain.”

Huangling Village in the mountains of Anhui outside of Jingdezhen.

How to get there  

There are regular flights from both Beijing and Shanghai to Jingdezhen, a third-tier city in Jiangxi Province. The flights take 2 1/2 hours from Beijing and one hour from Shanghai. There are also regular direct trains from Shanghai (4 hours) and connecting trains from Beijing.

What to do  

The ancient kilns and the Ceramic Folklore Museum are the must-sees of Jingdezhen, followed closely by Tao Xichuan Creative Park. Outside the bustling city, you can also take a brisk hike up mountains where the kaolin clay was harvested.

At the foot of the mountain, you can saunter around a small town that was once a mighty shipping port for the clay, where now you’ll see friendly elderly women looking over the river as their daughters wash clothes in shallow water. Tucked in the alleys of this town, past the flock of roaming chickens, there’s a small museum where the tools used for clay harvesting have been preserved.

WildChina clients trying their hand at ceramics

If all this porcelain-mania has inspired you, you can also try your hand at spinning and painting your own masterpieces in a local ceramics studio.

In Conversation with Caroline Cheng   

August 28: In Conversation with Caroline Cheng

Join us, alongside WildChina founder Mei Zhang, in conversation with Caroline Cheng, award-winning artist and curator. Ms. Cheng is the owner and executive director of the Pottery Workshop, a center to educate and promote the art of handmade ceramics, with branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Jingdezhen, and Dali.

"A tireless promoter of ceramic fine art, Cheng continues to lecture, give demonstrations, curate exhibitions, and create her own work - work that combines political messages with vibrant and original imagery." The British Museum 

When: Thursday, August 28, 8 am China. 

Price: Free

How: Via Zoom or Facebook

RSVP and get the link to join below: 

Join us this Fall  

24-27 September 2020

From 3,609 RMB per person

This small-group journey has been designed especially for those of us who call the Middle Kingdom home. We've brought together some of our favorite local guides, hosts, boutique hotels, and experts to bring you a journey into Jingdezhen that will help you delve deeper into the real China. This journey is also available as a private, customizable journey – just let us know. 

What we love: 

• Witnessing the centuries-old process of making porcelain with classically-trained artisans

• Hiking Gaoling Mountain where well-known kaolin clay was originally found

• Admiring contemporary ceramic art in the Tao Xi Chuan Art District

Learn more here: 

Read More 

WildChina was born on the sacred slopes of Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. Since WildChina’s first-ever trip in 2000, we have helped thousands of travelers enjoy life-changing experiences in every corner of this vast and endlessly inspiring nation. We never crop out reality or cocoon our travelers in a tourist bubble. We believe in the power of travel to transform, inspire, and bring people closer together, and we work tirelessly to perfect every detail for our guests. It’s this dedication, expertise, and passion for travel in China that makes us an award-winning industry leader.