Jingdezhen Travel Guide: Porcelain & Best Time to Visit

Jingdezhen is called the Porcelain Capital of China because it has been producing porcelain for over 1,000 years. If you're looking for a place to learn about Chinese culture and art, Jingdezhen is a good place to go. Also, since it's quite near to Huangshan, you can consider adding it to your Huangshan trip as an excursion.
Here, we've compiled an ultimate travel guide to Jingdezhen, aiming to help you plan a worry-free trip there.

A master is painting a vase in Jingdezhen

Top 5 Attractions in Jingdezhen

Basically, the most worthwhile attractions in Jingdezhen are all related to ceramics. If you plan to stay for one or two days, consider choosing two or three spots from the recommendations below.

Explore Jingdezhen China Ceramics Museum

A beautiful ceramic at the Jingdezhen Museum

The China Ceramic Museum is the largest porcelain museum in China, housing and exhibiting precious ceramic artifacts dating back to the Neolithic period. Here, you can see porcelain works from various dynasties, each showcasing unique craftsmanship, and learn about the history of Jingdezhen's porcelain industry and urban development.

The museum is free to visit, but reservations are required in advance. If you travel with us, we can not only handle the ticket reservations for you but also arrange a private guide to share the fascinating stories behind the exhibits.

Optionally, there are another 2 recommended porcelain museums. You can choose the one that you're interested in the most.

Jingdezhen Ancient Kiln and Folk Customs Museum

The Ancient Kiln and Folk Customs Museum is one of the top places to visit in Jingdezhen. This site not only features many porcelain exhibitions but also recreates ancient Chinese kilns and integrates folk performances, such as music played on ceramic instruments and live demonstrations of every step in traditional porcelain-making. Since the area is quite large, we recommend allowing about three hours for your visit.

Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum

The Imperial Kiln Museum houses many unique restored pieces unearthed from the Imperial Kiln ruins. It keeps the antiques from the largest royal porcelain factory during the Ming and Qing dynasties, producing ceramics exclusively for the imperial court.

The Imperial Kiln Museum is located within the Taoyangli Scenic Area. It's worth mentioning that the architectural design of Taoyangli is beautiful, making it a great place to stroll around and take stunning photos.

Visit Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue

Porcelain Made by Experienced Designers

Taoxichuan is a famous porcelain market in Jingdezhen, where many ceramic artists set up stalls to sell their own creations. The market is mainly divided into three sections: the Creative Zone, the Designer Zone, and the Traditional Zone. In the Creative Zone, you can find all kinds of imaginative, handmade ideas. Most of these pieces in the Creative Zone are designed by students or beginners. The Designer Zone features more refined works made by experienced designers, while the Traditional Zone showcases the most classic styles of Chinese porcelain.

Discover Jingdezhen Sculpture Porcelain Factory

Unfinished ceramics in Jingdezhen

The Sculpture Porcelain Factory is another large porcelain market, but it mainly consists of small individual shops. Here, you can find a wide variety of ceramic decorations such as porcelain dolls, flowers, refrigerator magnets, and more.

Although both Taoxichuan and the Sculpture Factory mainly sell ceramic souvenirs, they have different focuses. The ceramics at Taoxichuan lean more toward artistic creations, usually priced around 14-28 USD or even higher. They are ideal for personal collection or daily use. In contrast, the pieces at the Sculpture Factory are much cheaper. Most of them cost under 100 RMB, with some as low as 1 USD, and are well-made, making them perfect as gifts for friends.

Make Porcelain On Your Own

A worker is working on ceramics

It's worth mentioning that the Ancient Kiln and Folk Customs Museum, the Sculpture Porcelain Factory, and Taoxichuan offer DIY porcelain-making experiences. If you'd like to try creating your own ceramic piece, you can contact us, and we'll arrange it for you.

There are many types of ceramic-making experiences to choose from. You can start from a lump of clay and shape your own piece, or buy a pre-made model from the studio and paint it yourself before firing. The finished items can be plates, spoons, mugs, small figurines, and more.

However, one important thing to keep in mind is to check the color samples showing the difference before and after firing, or ask the studio instructor for color recommendations. This is because ceramic glazes can look very different after being fired.

Visit Yaoli Ancient Town

Yaoli Ancient Town is a charming place that combines ceramic art with traditional Jiangnan-style architecture. It has a natural, authentic atmosphere with little commercialization and few tourists, making it a quiet and peaceful destination. You can stroll along the narrow streets, enjoying views of the river and surrounding mountains. Many houses in the town are decorated with ceramics or ceramic patterns, giving the area a distinctive character.

Half a day is enough to explore the ancient town. If you have more time, you can visit nearby attractions such as Gaoling National Mining Park or Dongbu Ancient Wharf.

Best Time to Visit

Interesting Jingdezhen Decorations

Since Jingdezhen is famous for its ceramic culture, it's a great place to visit year-round. However, we especially recommend going in autumn (September to November), when the weather is pleasant. And it's not peak travel season in China.

In general, here's what to expect in each season:

Spring: The average temperature ranges from 10°C to 20°C, but it can fluctuate depending on the weather, especially if it rains. Be sure to check the forecast and bring rain gear before your trip.

Summer: It gets quite hot, with average temperatures between 22°C and 30°C. Many museums in Jingdezhen are air-conditioned, so you don't need to worry too much about the heat.

Autumn: Temperatures are similar to summer, ranging from 15°C to 28°C, but the difference between day and night can be noticeable. You might still see many people wearing short sleeves even at the end of October.

Winter: Starting in December, the temperature drops quickly to around 4°C-14°C. It may even snow briefly at times.

How to Get to Jingdezhen

Jingdezhen has two main train stations and one airport. If you're traveling from cities like Shanghai, Huangshan, Guangzhou, or Nanchang, you can take a bullet train. It takes no more than four hours to reach there, and only about one hour from nearby cities like Huangshan or Nanchang.

However, if your previous stop is a city farther away, such as Beijing, Xi'an, or Chengdu, we recommend flying instead, as the distance is quite long.

What to Eat in Jingdezhen

Jingdezhen is famous for its carb-rich dishes, including various kinds of rice noodles, buns, and noodles. Among them, the most recommended dishes are lengfen, a type of cold mixed rice noodle without soup, and dumpling cake, a kind of glutinous rice cake that looks similar to dumplings.

In addition, there are many delicious stir-fried dishes worth trying in Jingdezhen, such as stir-fried beef and stir-fried eggplant. Keep in mind that these dishes can be quite spicy, so if you can't handle spicy food, let the restaurant know when ordering.

There are plenty of restaurants near attractions like the Sculpture Porcelain Factory and Taoxichuan. If you want to explore a local food street, check out the night markets on Fuzhou Lane and Taoyangli Ancient Street. You'll find many snack stalls there, and some also sell travel souvenirs.

What Souvenirs to Buy

Delicate Jingdezhen Souvenirs

There are countless ceramic souvenirs to choose from in Jingdezhen. Since ceramics are fragile, we recommend picking up small items that are less likely to break and won't take up much space in your luggage, such as fridge magnets, bead bracelets, spoons, or chopsticks. These usually cost just 1 to 2 USD. Of course, you can also make your own souvenir at one of the local studios and take it home.

Discover Jingdezhen With Us

We're experienced at customizing itineraries for numerous travelers who want to visit China. We offer a one-stop service to take care of everything from planning an authentic trip in China, including private transfers, dedicated English-speaking guides, and more. Feel free to contact us or email trip@odynovotours.com for your exclusive itinerary to China.