Jingdezhen porcelain sites added to World Heritage List

An ancient porcelain-making hub in East China that has been active for nearly a millennium has won global recognition for its outstanding universal value.

The Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List on Saturday during the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan‌, South Korea, bringing the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 61.

Located in the hilly landscape of Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province, the sites document the evolution of a complete porcelain production system that flourished between the 10th and 19th centuries. Rich deposits of porcelain stone and kaolin clay, together with an extensive water transport network, helped transform the city into the world's foremost center of porcelain production.

The heritage premises comprise 45 component sites that cover an area of 1,979 hectares, ranging from porcelain workshops in the historical urban center to raw material extraction sites, transportation routes and traditional neighborhoods that together illustrate the industry's full production chain.

Alessandro Balsamo, head of the Nominations Unit at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, said that earlier, industry sites on the World Heritage List were represented more by locations known for mining or transportation.

"The Jingdezhen sites highlight another important dimension that was not really represented before, concerning artisanal production," he said. He added that the new inscription opens an important chapter in technological knowledge, skill and craftsmanship, and represents cultural exchanges over centuries.

According to Wei Qing, the author of the World Heritage nomination dossier, Jingdezhen represents an exceptional and unparalleled example of technological innovation, artistic achievement and industrial organization in porcelain production from the 13th to the 19th centuries.

From the bluish-white wares of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) to the blue-and-white ceramics of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the painted porcelain of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the famille rose and enamel wares of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Jingdezhen continuously expanded the possibilities of porcelain craftsmanship.

Cross-cultural exchange

Wei said Jingdezhen's success was also built on cross-cultural exchange. The city combined ceramic traditions from northern and southern China, incorporated pigments introduced from the Middle East and Europe, and blended domestic and foreign decorative aesthetics.

Blue-and-white porcelain is one of the best examples. Produced by combining China's porcelain-making techniques with Persian cobalt blue pigment, it became a defining influence on the "chinoiserie" style that flourished in European decorative arts throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.

At the Guanyinge kiln site in Jingdezhen, archaeologists discovered Kraak porcelain, ceramics produced specifically for European markets during the Ming and Qing periods, confirming the site's role as a major center for export-oriented production.

"It is this spirit of innovation that has kept the kilns of Jingdezhen burning," said Wang Guangyao, a ceramics archaeologist at the Palace Museum in Beijing.

Jad Tabet, a former representative of Lebanon to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, said the inscription is important because it is related to the artistic development of the whole world.

Tabet recalled that when he visited a museum in Jingdezhen years ago, he found some pieces of blue-and-white ceramics that were similar in style to some pieces given to him by his father.

"I offered it to Jingdezhen... and they discovered that it was an original piece from the late 18th century," Tabet said. "Now it is in the museum and I have a certificate."

Ren Youqun, vice-minister of education and chairperson of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, said that this inscription not only signifies international recognition of China's heritage preservation efforts, but also demonstrates China's valuable contributions and experiences in global heritage conservation.

The Chinese government has made tremendous efforts to protect the sites. The protection work has been going on for nearly half a century, and the process of application for World Heritage status has taken 11 years.

"Applying for World Heritage status has helped us better understand how Jingdezhen's porcelain industry evolved into China's ceramics capital," said Wang Tongmao, director of the Jingdezhen Municipal Leading Group Office for World Cultural Heritage Nomination. "That understanding provides a stronger foundation for future conservation efforts."

Urban renewal boosted

Deng Chao, head of the world cultural heritage department of China's National Cultural Heritage Administration, said the successful inscription also demonstrates how heritage protection can drive urban renewal. "The World Heritage application has helped Jingdezhen transform itself from a declining industrial city into a vibrant center where traditional craftsmanship and modern industry coexist. It is a powerful example of how cultural heritage can contribute to economic and social development."

While extending his congratulations to the Chinese people, Pablo Jimenez, a member of the Spanish delegation at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, also said, "I would like to say congratulations to all the world, because we have a new, wonderful UNESCO World Heritage (site)."

He said the transportation of Chinese porcelain from the Philippine islands to Spain was one of the most important and luxurious trades back in the 16th century, adding that Chinese porcelain has always been an important product in the world.