Jingdezhen

Author: Dong Xiaoming
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Protecting and developing urban historical and cultural heritage is a significant issue that concerns the world today. China stands tall in the world with its brilliant and unique history, and historical and cultural cities are invaluable treasures of the Chinese nation. Since 1982, the government has successively named several batches of nationally protected historical and cultural cities. Protecting historical and cultural heritage is not just about historical and cultural cities; every city has its own historical and cultural heritage, and it does not mean that it is not a modern city. Therefore, all cities, especially historical and cultural cities, should strive to develop cultural, economic, and tourism industries that align with their own characteristics in the process of protection, in order to carry forward the legacy and maintain eternal vitality. The "Historical and Cultural Cities of China" series, organized and edited by the Research Center of National Historical and Cultural Cities, will undoubtedly play a beneficial role in better promoting, protecting, and developing these cities.
Jingdezhen has a long history and splendid culture. Dominating the southern bank of the Yangtze River, it is known as the "Mighty Town of Jiangnan." Historically, it was one of the "Four Famous Towns of China," alongside Foshan in Guangdong, Hankou in Hubei, and Zhuxiang Town in Henan. It was one of the first 24 nationally protected historical and cultural cities announced by the State Council and a Class A open city. In June 1953, the State Council approved Jingdezhen as a direct-controlled city of Jiangxi Province. It now administers one city, one county, and two districts: Leping City, Fuliang County, Zhushan District, and Changjiang District, covering an area of 5,256 square kilometers and a population of 1.52 million, with 500,000 in the urban area.
Jingdezhen is located in the northeastern part of Jiangxi Province, bordering Dongzhi County in Anhui to the northwest, Wannian County to the south, Boyang County to the west, Qimen County in Anhui to the northeast, and Wuyuan County to the southeast. It is situated in the transitional zone between the foothills of Huangshan and Huaiyu Mountains and the Poyang Lake Plain, spanning 116°57′-117°42′ east longitude and 28°44′-29°56′ north latitude. It has a subtropical monsoon climate with ample sunlight, abundant rainfall, mild and humid weather, and distinct seasons. The mountains are layered, rivers are dense, and the landscape is picturesque. The average altitude of the urban area is 320 meters, with an average annual temperature of 17°C, an annual rainfall of 1,763.5 millimeters, and an average of 2,009.8 hours of sunshine.
Jingdezhen is a world-famous porcelain capital with a long history and profound cultural heritage. Historical records state, "Xinping began pottery production in the Han Dynasty," indicating that porcelain production started as early as the Han Dynasty. In the first year of the Jingde era (1004 AD), the imperial court ordered the production of porcelain for the palace, with all items marked "Made in the Jingde Era." Jingdezhen was thus named after this era. From the Yuan Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, emperors sent officials to Jingdezhen to oversee the production of palace porcelain, establishing porcelain bureaus and imperial kilns, creating countless exquisite ceramic works, especially the four famous types: blue-and-white porcelain, famille rose porcelain, translucent porcelain, and colored glaze porcelain. "Mao Zedong's porcelain," Shanghai "APEC" porcelain, state guesthouse porcelain, and various artistic ceramics are highly praised by the world. Jingdezhen porcelain is renowned for its "white as jade, thin as paper, resonant as a bell, and clear as a mirror." Guo Moruo once praised Jingdezhen's splendid porcelain history and culture with the verse, "China is called the porcelain country, and the peak of porcelain industry is here." Porcelain has connected Jingdezhen with the world.
Jingdezhen City has rich and unique tourism resources, including ceramic culture, cultural landscapes, and ecological environments, with a particular advantage in ceramic resources. The city has discovered over 30 historical porcelain sites, such as the ancient porcelain raw material production site and the naming place of kaolin (the world-famous porcelain raw material), the ancient porcelain kiln site of Houtian, and the Ming and Qing imperial kiln site, all listed as national or provincial protected cultural relics sites, with global influence and appeal. Jingdezhen has numerous scenic spots and landmarks, including well-preserved ancient villages from the Ming and Qing dynasties, Huizhou-style architectural clusters, and ancient theaters. There is the ancient county government office of Fuliang, known as the second "Ancient County Government Office of China" and the "Jiangnan Second Ancient County Government Office." There is the Sanlun Temple named after Qu Yuan, the Three Lords. There is the Red Pagoda and Yangxian Terrace in Yaoli, as well as Hongyuan Fairyland, Sun Island, Moon Lake, Yangfu Temple, Liji Mountain, and Cuiping Lake. Jingdezhen is also a region with a glorious revolutionary tradition. The famous reorganization of the New Fourth Army in Yaoli was in Yaoli Town, Fuliang County, and the birthplace of the Red Army was in Zhongbu Town, Leping City. In 1997, the city was recommended by the China National Tourism Administration and other organizations as one of the 35 top tourist spots in the 1997 China Tourism National Card.
Jingdezhen City has abundant natural resources and a good ecological environment. The main minerals include porcelain stone, kaolin, coal, tungsten, sand gold, copper, fluorite, sulfur, limestone, and marble, with particularly rich reserves of porcelain stone and kaolin. The currently proven reserves can still be mined for over 300 years. The forest coverage rate of the city is 60.9%, making it one of the key forest regions in Jiangxi Province. Fifty kilometers from the urban area, there are still primary forests, inhabited by numerous bears, tigers, monkeys, and other animals, as well as rare trees like the dawn redwood. Places like Wanghu in Yaoli Town, Fuliang County, and Bai, Meiling, as well as Gaolin Village and Dongbu Village in Ehu Town, are shrouded in clouds and mist year-round, with clear waters and lush mountains. Historically, Jingdezhen's specialties were known as "Porcelain First, Tea Second." Tea was one of Jingdezhen's famous products. As early as the Tang Dynasty, Jingdezhen was a major tea trading hub in China, as evidenced by Bai Juyi's famous poem "The Ballad of Pingbo," which includes the line, "Merchants value profit over parting, last month they bought tea in Fuliang." At that time, Jingdezhen's tea tax accounted for two-thirds of the national tea tax. "Fuhong" tea was renowned internationally and won a gold medal at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition. Recently cultivated and developed high-quality teas like "Deyu Huo Cha," "Yaoli Ya Yu," and "Fuyao Xianzhi" green tea are popular in the market. "Deyu Huo Cha" has been selected as the special tea for the Great Hall of the People and state banquets.
The "Historical and Cultural Cities of China: Jingdezhen" album is divided into eight parts: "Jingdezhen, the Historical and Cultural City," "Ancient City Scenery," "Cultural Veins of the Porcelain Capital," "Historical Sites," "Prominent Figures," "Porcelain Culture," "Local Delicacies," "Contemporary Development," and "Tourism Services," with 99 subheadings. The book collects nearly 200 new images reflecting the urban landscape of Jingdezhen, making it a comprehensive and systematic encyclopedia-style album introducing Jingdezhen.