China's porcelain capital nurtures dreams of global youth

INCUBATOR FOR DREAM SEEKERS

Every weekend night, Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue comes alive with young entrepreneurs. Their stalls overflow with creative handicrafts, including ceramic earrings, tableware, and decorations that quickly capture the hearts of buyers.

"I have realized my artistic dream here," Li Zhenxing, a 23-year-old stall owner, said proudly. For the past six months, Li has been running the stall at the weekend fair. Together with his two classmates, he established a specialized ceramic sculpture studio after graduating with a sculpture degree last year.

Li's ceramic creations have attracted a steady stream of customers. Zhou Pengchao, a resident of Jiujiang city in Jiangxi, purchased a rabbit sculpture as a gift for his daughter. "This is my third visit to Taoxichuan, and the ceramics crafted by these young artists are not only affordable but also delightful," commented Zhou.

"With a simple application through a WeChat mini-program, we can easily set up a stall here. Moreover, the monthly stall fee is as low as 300 yuan (about $41.64)," said Su Hui, a young artist from Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

"As of now, Taoxichuan has supported more than 20,000 young people under 36 to start businesses and find jobs," said Hua Jing, deputy general manager of the cultural development company, Jingdezhen Taoyi, that oversees Taoxichuan. The number of stalls in Taoxichuan has grown from 55 in 2016 to nearly 1,000 today, showcasing the rapid expansion of this creative hub.

Statistics reveal that over 50 percent of entrepreneurs in Jingdezhen were born in the 1990s. "These young individuals with dreams and remarkable talents have infused the city with boundless possibilities, while also contributing to the preservation and dissemination of our cherished ceramic cultural heritage," said Hua.