The Belt and Road News Network

Posters: Jingdezhen porcelain — beyond blue and white

By Wu Chaolan    People's Daily Online   10:47, August 14, 2026

Editor's note:

What can a piece of porcelain reveal about a city, a craft and a changing world?

In July 2026, the Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, bringing renewed global attention to a porcelain-making tradition shaped over more than a thousand years.

Jingdezhen, in east China's Jiangxi Province, has long been a place where clay, fire and human ingenuity meet. Beyond the iconic blue-and-white porcelain lies a world of endless possibilities — from the jade-like elegance of Qingbai ware and ingenious mechanical vessels to expressive painted narratives, vibrant famille-rose decoration and ever-changing colored glazes.

This collection explores how Jingdezhen artisans continuously pushed the boundaries of porcelain, transforming a simple material into a medium of innovation, artistry and cultural exchange. Together, these works reveal not only the beauty of Jingdezhen porcelain, but also the creativity and craftsmanship behind a legacy that continues to inspire the world.