Jingdezhen Porcelain Sites Named to UNESCO World Heritage List

The site preserves a comprehensive production system that drove global ceramic manufacturing between the 10th and 19th centuries. Comprising 45 component areas across 1,979 hectares, the property documents the entire industrial chain—from the extraction of kaolin clay and porcelain stone to the historic workshops and transit networks that once connected Jingdezhen to the world.

UNESCO recognized the region under four cultural criteria, citing its role in the evolution of porcelain technology and its influence on cross-cultural artistic exchanges. The committee specifically highlighted the development of blue-and-white porcelain, which integrated Chinese craftsmanship with Persian cobalt pigments to shape the "chinoiserie" style that later dominated European decorative arts in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Rao Quan, vice minister of culture and tourism, pledged that China would continue to prioritize the integrated protection and sustainable management of these sites. The committee commended the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the area, which remains a testament to the profound impact of Chinese manufacturing on global heritage.