For centuries the ceramic capital of China, Jingdezhen is still one of the country’s major porcelain producers. Although pottery kilns were operating here as far back as the Han Dynasty, it was the discovery of real porcelain, during the Five Dynasties era (907-79 AD), which depended on locally found clay rich in feldspar, that brought Jingdezhen its preeminence. During the Ming Dynasty, its location near the imperial capital of Nanjing increased its importance and it became famous for fine porcelain with a blue under-glaze. Although the quality of the porcelain is lower than in the past, the main reason for visiting Jingdezhen is still ceramic production. Visiting a factory or one of the ancient kiln sites will need to be arranged though CITS but there are also several places of interest that can be visited independently.

The Museum of Ceramic History is located in a rural setting on the western edge of town. Displays of items taken from ancient kiln sites around Jingdezhen and of potters at work effectively make this museum interactive. The museum is housed in an elegant Ming house, a rare survivor among the many that would once have graced the town. The adjacent Ancient Pottery Factory gives demonstrations of the ancient techniques used in the making of porcelain.

The Porcelain Museum houses a collection of beautiful porcelain from the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, as well as some of the finer creations produced since the establishment of the PRC in 1949. The main porcelain market is on Jiefang Lu. Porcelain in all shapes and sizes is sold here, from classical-period reproductions to garden ornaments and sentimental reproductions of dogs and cats. For a view across the roofs of town, visitors can climb the wooden Longzhu Ge (Loong Pearl Pavilion).