Jingdezhen

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Jingdezhen is a prefecture-level city, in northeastern Jiangxi province, with a total population of 1,669,057 (2018),^[1] bordering Anhui to the north. It is known as the "Porcelain Capital" because it has been producing Chinese ceramics for at least 1,000 years, and for much of that period Jingdezhen porcelain was the most important and finest quality in China. The city has a well-documented history that stretches back over 2,000 years.

History

Throughout both the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, the area of present-day Jingdezhen belonged to the Chu State.^[3] After the fall of the Chu, the area was incorporated into the Qin dynasty as part of Fan County (番县) in Jiujiang Commandery [zh].^[3] Under the Han dynasty, the area belonged to Poyang County (鄱阳县) in Yuzhang Commandery [zh].^[3] Under the Han dynasty, the particular area of future Jingdezhen was known as Xinping (新平).^[3] Historical records show that it was during this time that it began to make porcelain.^[4]

The town was established during the

In 1855 during the Taiping Rebellion, Taiping forces destroyed all 9,000 kilns in Jingdezhen. They would be rebuilt after the war in 1866.^{[citation needed]}

In the 19th century, Jingdezhen became a

On April 29, 1949, Communist forces took the city.^[3]

May 4, 1949, it was upgraded to a prefecture city. However, to honor its history, Jingdezhen retained it the word zhen meaning town in its name. Usually when a town is upgraded to a city, the designation of shi meaning city replaces that of zhen.^[8]

On June, 1953 Jindezhen was upgraded into a provincial level city.^[8]

In 1960, Fuliang County was merged into the city.^[3]

Jingdezhen was named one of top 24 national historical and cultural cities of the People's Republic of China on February 28, 1982.^[9]

In July 1983, Leping County was also merged into the city.^[3] In October 1988, Fuliang County was re-established, and in September 1992, Leping County was re-established as a county-level city.^[3]

In 2004, Jingdezhen celebrated the millennium of its becoming the porcelain capital and it is assuming its present name.

Due to the relatively low cost of living and the heritage of the porcelain industry, Jingdezhen has become a haven for young artists from all over China, who are often referred to known as Jingpiao (景漂).^[5][6][10]

Geography

Jingdezhen is situated in the north-east of Jiangxi and borders on Anhui; the city center area is located in the north-east of the Poyang Lake Plain. Its area is 5,256 km² (2,029 sq mi).^[11] The highest point is 1,618 m (5,308 ft), with plains on the southern part having an average altitude of 200 m (660 ft).

There are some cities and counties between Jiangxi and Anhui Province around Jingdezhen. To its north, northwest and northeast are

Jingdezhen's natural resources include kaolin, coal, manganese, and lime, but it is the kaolin that has made the city famous in China and the world. For over a millennium, its unique kaolin has enabled Jingdezhen to make high-quality porcelain. (The word "Kaolin" came from "Gaoling" or "Kaoling", a village located in Ehu Town, Fuliang County, Jingdezhen).^[12][13]

Climate

Jingdezhen has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) affected by the East Asian monsoon, with long, humid, very hot summers and cool and drier winters with occasional cold snaps. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) in January to 29.1 °C (84.4 °F) in July, with an annual average of 17.81 °C (64.1 °F). The average annual precipitation is 1,805 mm (71.1 in). With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 25% in March to 56% in August, the city receives 1,798 hours of bright sunshine annually. Winter begins somewhat sunny and dry but becomes progressively wetter and cloudier; spring begins especially gloomy, and from March to July each of the months averages more than 190 mm (7.5 in) of rainfall. Summer is the sunniest season here, while autumn remains warm to mild and relatively dry. Extreme maximum temperatures of above 40 °C (104 °F) have been recorded, as have extreme minimums below −10 °C (14 °F).

Administrative divisions

The city of Jingdezhen is divided into 4

County-level divisions of Jingdezhen

English Name	Hanzi[3]	Division Type[3]	Population (2007)
Zhushan District	珠山区	District	279,357
Changjiang District	昌江区	District	170,229
Fuliang County	浮梁县	County	280,029
Leping City	乐平市	County-level city	832,142

Map
Zhushan Changjiang Fuliang County Leping (city)

Porcelain

Jingdezhen may have produced pottery as early as the sixth century CE, though it is named after the reign name of Emperor Zhenzong, in whose reign it became a major kiln site, around 1004. By the 14th century it had become the largest centre of production of Chinese porcelain, which it has remained, increasing its dominance in subsequent centuries. For several centuries, almost all top quality Chinese porcelain has come from the town.^[17] From the Ming period onwards, official kilns in Jingdezhen were controlled by the emperor, making "imperial porcelain" in large quantity for the court and the emperor to give as gifts.

Although apparently an unpromising location for potteries, being a remote town in a hilly region, Jingdezhen is close to the best quality deposits of petuntse, or porcelain stone, in China, as well as being surrounded by forests, mostly of pine, providing wood for the kilns. It also has a river leading to river systems flowing north and south, facilitating transport of fragile wares.^[18] The imperial kilns were in the centre of the city at Zhushan (Pearl Hill), with many other kilns four kilometres away at Hutian.^[19]

It has produced a great variety of pottery and porcelain, for the Chinese market and as

• 
  Jingdezhen soft paste porcelain flower holder, "

  Famille Rose", 1736–1796, Qianlong period
• 
  Jingdezhen blue and white plate, mid-14th century
• 
  Early Kangxi 17th century, Jingdezhen Ware, Nantoyōsō Collection, Japan
• 
  Ming plate with grape design, 15th century, Jingdezhen kilns, Jiangxi, British Museum
• 
  Wine Jar with Carp among Water Weeds and Lotuses, 16th century,

  The Walters Art Museum

Economy

Jingdezhen serves as an important industrial and commercial base in Jiangxi Province. In 2018, Jingdezhen achieved a GDP of 92.611 billion yuan.^[3] Of this, 6.62% of the city's GDP came from its primary sector, 44.22% came from its secondary sector, and the remaining 49.16% came from its tertiary sector.^[3]

As of 2018, the per capita disposable income of urban residents in the city is ¥37,183, which ranks third among

For 2018, the city's public budget revenue was ¥8.98555 billion, and its public budget expenditure was ¥20.43550 billion.[3]

Industry

There are some important industrial enterprises in Jingdezhen City, such as Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation; Jingdezhen Ceramics; Jingdezhen Refrigeration Compressor, etc.^{[citation needed]}

Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, is based in Jingdezhen.^[21] The firm, established in 1969, mainly sells helicopters to the People's Liberation Army, but also does business with firms such as Boeing, Sikorsky, and Leonardo.^[21] Changhe produces aircraft parts for the Boeing 767-300BCF.^{[citation needed]}

Jiangxi Changhe Automobile Co Ltd, commonly known as Changhe, is an automotive firm owned by BAIC Group which is based in the city.^[22] The firm is forecast to produce 53,400 vehicles in 2019.^[3]

Jingdezhen Ceramics Co Ltd (景德镇陶瓷股份有限公司) is a joint venture with a French company and is most famous of Jingdezhen's ceramic companies.^{[citation needed]} In February 2002, then-CCP General Secretary Jiang Zemin presented a porcelain set produced by the company under its Hongye (红叶) brand to U.S. President George W. Bush.^[23]

Jingdezhen Refrigeration Compressor Company is well known in China for its non-Eph refrigeration compressor.^{[citation needed]} It holds a 20% share of its market in China.^{[citation needed]}

Agriculture

Jingdezhen is a major agricultural center in Jiangxi, with extensive rice cultivation within its boundaries. The area is also an important producer of commodity grain, pigs, and cotton.

In Fuliang County there are some large-scale tea plantations and processing facilities.^{[citation needed]} The tea of Fuliang County is well known in China.^{[citation needed]} Bai Juyi, a famous poet of Tang dynasty China, wrote a poem that says "My merchant loved money more than family, he left me to go to Fuliang to buy tea last month".^{[citation needed]} This suggests that one thousand years ago Fuliang was already well known for its tea.^{[citation needed]} In 1915, Fuliang's "Fuhong" brand tea won a golden prize in Panama–Pacific International Exposition.^{[citation needed]}

Leping City, the "Vegetable Township of