At 12:44 p.m. local time on July 25, 2026, during the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, Republic of Korea, China's nominated property, "Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage,"successfully passed deliberation and was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. With this inscription, the total number of World Heritage properties in China has reached 61.

The Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage is located in the northeastern part of Jiangxi Province, China. It consists of five component parts: the Urban Porcelain Production Center, the Hutian Ancient Kiln Site, the Gaoling Porcelain Clay Mine Site, the Changling Porcelain Stone Mine Site, and the Jiaotan Kiln Fuel Production Area. Together, these include 15 groups of heritage elements, such as the Imperial Kiln Factory Site, the Luomaqiao Kiln Site, the Guanyinge Kiln Site, the Dawukeng Porcelain Stone Open-Pit Mine Site, the Xiaowuli Valley Porcelain Stone Mining and Processing Site, and the surviving water and land transportation network, encompassing a total of 45 heritage locations.

The property represents the handmade porcelain production system of Jingdezhen from the 10th to the 19th centuries, illustrating the development and innovation of China's handmade porcelain technology, ceramic artistry, and porcelain industry. It also bears witness to the profound influence of China's handmade porcelain industry on the development of ceramic production and cultural exchange around the world.

The heritage property covers 1,979 hectares, with a buffer zone of 5,545.7 hectares, for a total protected area of 7,524.7 hectares.

Urban Porcelain Production Center: Imperial Kiln Factory Site

Urban Porcelain Production Center: Luomaqiao Kiln Site

Urban Porcelain Production Center: Xiangji Lane Residential House

Urban Porcelain Production Center: Zhu Family Xia Lane Site

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized that the Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage meets World Heritage Criteria (ii), (iii), (iv), and (vi). The Committee explicitly noted that "Beginning in the 16th century, Jingdezhen became the world's center of handmade porcelain production."

The Committee concluded that the property demonstrates the integration and innovation of porcelain-making technology and artistic traditions in Jingdezhen from the 10th to the 19th centuries, reflecting an important interchange of human values in the development of the porcelain industry (Criterion ii). It provides unique testimony to the production processes and complete industrial organization of China's handmade porcelain industry during the 10th–19th centuries(Criterion iii). It is an outstanding representative and exceptional example of innovations in ceramic technology, artistry, and industrial organization between the 13th and 19th centuries (Criterion iv). Furthermore, the Committee recognized that Jingdezhen blue-and-white porcelain, as an important vehicle for the dissemination of Chinese culture and a significant symbol of Eastern art, promoted the global expression of Chinese civilization and culture (Criterion vi).

The Committee also acknowledged the property's integrity and authenticity, and highly commended the Chinese government's outstanding efforts and achievements in the protection and management of the Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage.

Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism and Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Rao Quan, spoke on behalf of the Chinese government, expressing gratitude to the international organizations and Committee member states. He solemnly pledged that China would faithfully fulfill its obligations under the World Heritage Convention, continue strengthening the integrated and systematic protection, inheritance, and sustainable use of the property, and work together with international organizations and all States Parties to safeguard this treasure of human civilization.

Remarks were also delivered by Yang Xinyu, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of China to UNESCO; Ren Youqun, Vice Minister of Education; Wan Guangming, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Jiangxi Province; and Chen Kelong, Secretary of the Jingdezhen Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.

China has devoted long-term and tremendous efforts to the protection and nomination of the Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage. Conservation work has continued for nearly half a century, while the World Heritage nomination process itself lasted 11 years, progressing through four stages.

Initial Conservation Stage (1982–2014)

In 1982, the Hutian Ancient Kiln Site was designated as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in the second batch of such listings. In 1984, archaeological investigations confirmed the remains of the Imperial Kiln Factory.

In 2006, the National Cultural Heritage Administration submitted the Imperial Kiln Factory Site directly to the State Council, which designated it as a National Key Cultural Heritage Site in the sixth batch of national listings. In 2007, it was included among China's nationally significant archaeological sites, and local authorities were urged to strengthen protection. However, surrounding construction was at one time poorly regulated, illegal excavations occurred repeatedly, and the site's preservation was a matter of serious concern.

Emergency Conservation Stage (2015–2022)

In 2015, President Xi Jinping issued two important instructions concerning the protection of the Imperial Kiln Factory Site, providing direction for the conservation of the kiln site and related porcelain industry heritage.

In 2017, the Imperial Kiln Factory Site was included on China's Tentative List for World Cultural Heritage.

The National Cultural Heritage Administration actively promoted the establishment of a National Archaeological Site Park, organized archaeological excavations, conservation and presentation projects, environmental improvements, and coordinated efforts to combat illegal excavation and other criminal activities.

In 2019, during an inspection tour of Jiangxi Province, President Xi issued further important instructions. The State Council approved the establishment of the Jingdezhen National Ceramic Culture Inheritance and Innovation Pilot Zone, with the World Heritage nomination identified as one of its key objectives.

In 2021, the National Cultural Heritage Administration designated the Imperial Kiln Site as a key World Heritage nomination project during China's 14th Five-Year Plan, and the Imperial Kiln Museum was established and opened to the public.

World Heritage Nomination Stage (2023–2024)

In 2023, President Xi visited Jingdezhen and emphasized that "Ceramics are a treasure of the Chinese nation and an important calling card of Chinese civilization," urging that "the brilliant reputation of the 'Millennium Porcelain Capital' be made even brighter." These remarks provided important guidance for the nomination effort.

The National Cultural Heritage Administration fully supported the nomination process, assembling China's leading archaeological, conservation, and exhibition teams. Archaeological excavations were carried out at 15 locations, covering more than 4,000 square meters. Thirty-six public spaces were created, 130 historic cultural relic buildings and 56 historic buildings were restored, and more than 1,000 existing buildings were adaptively reused. Demolition and reconstruction were minimized, while vacant buildings were given priority for reuse.

Extensive research into the property's heritage values led to the discovery of nearly 100 new cultural heritage sites. Newly identified porcelain stone mines and kiln fuel production areas were incorporated into the nomination. The property was renamed "Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage," expanding its scope beyond the Imperial Kiln Factory to encompass the entire handmade porcelain production chain.

Enhancement and Finalization Stage (2025–2026)

In January 2025, the Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage was officially designated as China's World Heritage nomination for 2026.

The National Cultural Heritage Administration organized the timely submission of the nomination dossier, completed major conservation and presentation projects, improved heritage management, monitoring, and archival systems, and continuously strengthened conservation and management standards. The property successfully completed the on-site evaluation, supplementary documentation, and defense process.

In May 2026, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) issued its evaluation report, and in June, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre released the draft decision. Both recommended that the Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage be inscribed directly on the World Heritage List.

On July 25, 2026, the Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage was successfully inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Hutian Ancient Kiln Site

Gaoling Porcelain Clay Mine Site

Changling Porcelain Stone Mine Site: Stone Beam Section of the Dawukeng Porcelain Stone Open-Pit Mine Site

Changling Porcelain Stone Mine Site: Mine Tunnel at the Xiaowuli Valley Porcelain Stone Mining and Processing Site

Jiaotan Kiln Fuel Production Area: Lifang Village Kiln Fuel Forest and Historic Architectural Complex

The successful inscription of the Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage is a vivid demonstration of the implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, a vivid practice in strengthening the systematic protection, inheritance, and utilization of cultural heritage, a vivid practice of the people-centered development philosophy, and a vivid practice in building a system of symbols representing Chinese civilization.

Its inscription not only fills the gap in the UNESCO World Heritage List concerning the theme of porcelain, but has also had a profound impact on the economic and social development of Jingdezhen.

World Heritage inscription is not the end of heritage conservation, but a new beginning. The National Cultural Heritage Administration, together with Jiangxi Province and Jingdezhen City, will continue to uphold the principle of protection first, strictly follow the requirements of the World Heritage Convention, strengthen the systematic protection, presentation, and interpretation of the Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Heritage, promote the sustainable development of the heritage site, and make new and greater contributions to fostering exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and to the prosperity of world culture.

Author: Wen Xuan
Editor: Yang Yapeng
Reviewed by: Li Rui