UNESCO Inscribes Jingdezhen Porcelain Heritage Site in China

China’s historic porcelain hub of Jingdezhen has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites were inscribed during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, bringing China’s total World Heritage sites to 61. It is the first Chinese industrial heritage site to receive World Heritage status and the first site dedicated to porcelain.

The site comprises a network of kilns and workshops in Jiangxi Province that produced porcelain from the 10th to the 19th century, showcasing technological innovation and artistic achievement that influenced global ceramic traditions. President Xi Jinping, who has long championed Chinese cultural heritage, highlighted the importance of preserving this craft during a 2023 visit to Jingdezhen, meeting fourth‑generation craftsman Sun Lixin and emphasizing the need to adapt tradition for the future.