If porcelain is your thing, then Jingdezhen is an absolute must-visit on your bucket list in China. Jingdezhen, often referred to as the “Porcelain Capital” of China, is renowned for its long-standing tradition of porcelain production. Located in Jiangxi Province, this city has been a center of Chinese porcelain craftsmanship for over a century, its famous blue-and-white porcelain has been highly prized both domestically and internationally. Recent years, Jingdezhen has hosted numerous pottery workshops, museums, and galleries, all of which add a modern and artistic vibe to this city. With yummy local street food and interesting ceramic arts and crafts shopping markets, Jingdezhen is fast becoming the cool place to visit in China. Below we introduce a 2-day itinerary according to our personal experience and we hope it will help you with your trip to Jingdezhen.
If you have time to spare, you can extend your trip to three days in Jingdezhen by visiting Yaoli Ancient Town on the third day. But if you have just visited Wuyuan ( people tend to visit Wuyuan and Jingdezhen together), then you can skip Yaoli Ancient Town, as many villages in Wuyuan are similar in architecture and culture to Yaoli Ancient Town.
Day 1:
- Jingdezhen China Ceramic Museum: this is an excellent place to understand the development history of Jingdezhen and China’s porcelain production history and culture. Entrance is free, but you need to reserve tickets online in advance, especially on weekends or holidays. The museum has some tickets released every hour on the day, you can try your luck at the door if you can’t find any tickets online. Museum is open from 9:00-17:00, closed on Mondays.
- Taoxichuan Art District: the old Universal Porcelain Factory building has now become a cultural and creative district full of artistic atmosphere. Here, you can admire various ceramic works of art and experience the perfect combination of craftsmanship and modern creativity. Visit at night for a different vibe!
Day 2:
- Sanbao International Ceramic Art Village: Once an important source of raw materials for Jingdezhen’s ancient porcelain industry, it is now home to many talented artists (some from overseas) who come here to pursue their ceramic dreams and passions. Sanbao Village has only one main street that stretches for several kilometers. Walking along the street, you can see many art venues, such as art galleries, museums, ceramic workshops, branded porcelain stores, etc. each has its own artistic style. There are also cafes, teahouses, specialty restaurants, and guest houses along the way for a nice break or an overnight stay. There are hiking routes deep in the village with a beautiful natural environment. There is also a restaurant called Sanbao Bieyuan, which is very unique. Have lunch here!
- Ancient Kiln Folklore Expo Area (also known as Taoyangli Historical and Cultural Tourism Area, entrance fee: 53 CNY/RMB ): this is the site of the Royal Kiln Factory, the Royal Kiln Museum, and the old alleys. Once you are inside, we recommend visiting the Royal Kiln Museum first. In our opinion, the museum is the highlight of the area. Here, you can witness with your own eyes the ancient kilns from the Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty and feel the long history of porcelain making skills. The Royal Kiln Museum is open from 9:00-22:00, but closed on Mondays. Entrance to the museum itself is free, but you do need to reserve the tickets online to get in. This area integrates ceramic experience, local culture, entertainment and leisure. It is the only national tourist attraction in the country with the theme of ceramic culture. This area is huge, expect to spend 3-5 hours here.
- Treasure hunt at Taoyang New Village Night Market for ceramic gifts: brightly lit and lively, this night market has all sorts of ceramic goods imaginable, rich in design and friendly in price, this is the place to shop for inexpensive gifts. Price negotiable! Best time to visit: 7pm-10pm. Bus #27 takes you directly to the market entrance.
Day 3:
Yaoli Ancient Town: located northeast of Jingdezhen, this town was the birthplace of Jingdezhen ceramics. Here you can find the quiet remains of many old Huizhou style buildings and feel the impact of the original local ceramics industry. Featuring its ancient architecture and beautiful scenery full of forests and waterfalls, this area is the perfect place to relax in Jingdezhen.
Food & Drink:
- Fuzhou Street Foods
- Relax and enjoy your coffee while admiring the unique chinaware and porcelain display in a cafe
- Try Jingdezhen special snack: fried dough with sticky rice inside
- Local specialty tea: Fuliang red tea, buy it as a gift
Hotel:
Hyatt Place Jingdezhen Taoxichuan: beautifully designed hotel, across the street from Taoxichuan Art District, delicious breakfast with local specialty food, central location to major attractions in Jingdezhen, strongly recommended.
