An epic of earth, fire and dreams

"Traded porcelain from Jingdezhen became a vehicle of Chinese culture and an important symbol of art from the East," explains Wei, the application drafter.

For example, the Jingdezhen blue-and-white porcelain was a key element in the chinoiserie that was popular in European decorative arts in the 17th and 18th centuries.

European nobility became collectors of Chinese porcelain, and many famous palaces feature "Chinese rooms". The artistic characteristics of Jingdezhen porcelain were then widely imitated by European workshops.

On the other hand, as Wei points out, technologies in Jingdezhen during the 13th to 19th centuries also combined traditional Chinese porcelain-making with pigments from the Middle East and Europe, blending Chinese and overseas decorative techniques.

That was how the iconic blue-and-white, enamel and famille-rose porcelains were created. "It's the meaning of mutual learning among cultures," Wei says.

Impetus for urban growth

It is not easy to find one's direction in the maze-like old neighborhood of Jingdezhen by the Changjiang River. Locals have a suggestion: Find the alley with xianong (lower lane) in its name. All eventually lead to the river.

Old porcelain workshops hide in the streets, and the ancient piers that once witnessed the hustle and bustle of porcelain cargo are quiet, but the locals' hearts still hold pride for their past.

Growing up near the Luomaqiao kiln site, which has operated for 800 years, Xiong Wenbo, 54, is now a leading porcelain painter in the city.

"Top-tier artisans once gathered here, but many people left no name," he says. "The industry rose and fell, and the handicraft also faced difficulties.

"Bidding for World Heritage status offered a precious opportunity to better review our past and prolong our cultural lineage," he says. "It's great to see the 'fresh' faces of the city."

Saying "fresh", he by no means refers to the old neighborhood giving way to modern urban construction. On the contrary, these communities that benefited from porcelain centuries ago were renovated to maintain their original aesthetics.

Walking through the alleys, people now recall many long-forgotten links in the industry chain from the old days: a trade house, a paddy straw packaging shop, a pigment shop, and a place to handle defective products.

"We have carried out systematic projects to restore the valuable old buildings and decorated them in their original styles, following historical records and local people's memories," says Cheng Tong, a designer in charge of the city's urban renewal. "In this way, traces of ancient life can still be found in modern neighborhoods."

To get a full picture of Jingdezhen, archaeologist Wang's horizon has expanded beyond the kilns. A series of urban archaeology projects was launched in the alleyways and transportation network, unveiling some lesser-known but equally important elements for the World Heritage status.

"Porcelains turned a small town into a business center, but life here is more than that," Wang says. "We've gained more knowledge about society, the relationship between humans and the environment, as well as people's beliefs and migration."

At the Siwang Temple, people pray for patronage from local deities who oversee the waters in Jiangxi. The Mazu Temple, where the goddess of sailors of the sea was honored, offers wishes for safety and prosperity.