Jingdezhen: China's Porcelain Capital — & How to Get There From Nanchang
Jingdezhen, the 1,000-year porcelain capital: ancient kilns, the Imperial Kiln Museum & Taoxichuan. Plus how to get there from Nanchang by high-speed rail.
By Chen · Hello Nanchang · Last updated
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China · Easy day trip or 1–2 nights from Nanchang; best Aug–Oct
Why Jingdezhen?
Jingdezhen has been making porcelain for more than a thousand years. For centuries it was the imperial kiln town that supplied the Chinese court — the source of the blue-and-white "china" that became one of the country's most famous exports. Today it's a brilliant mash-up of working ceramics city, open-air museum and contemporary art colony: thousands of independent potters, designers and overseas "jingpiao" (Jingdezhen drifters) have moved in, so alongside the historic kilns you get galleries, weekend creative markets and hands-on studios where you can throw your own pot. For anyone based in Nanchang, it's the single easiest and most rewarding day trip in Jiangxi.
How to get there from Nanchang (the key question)
This is the most-asked Jiangxi transit question, and the answer is wonderfully simple: take the high-speed train. Since the Nanchang–Jingdezhen–Huangshan high-speed line opened at the end of 2023, the fastest trains cover the trip in around 40 minutes, with very frequent departures across the day (on the order of 40-plus). Here's the drill:
- Route: Nanchang East (南昌东 / Nanchangdong) → Jingdezhen North (景德镇北 / Jingdezhenbei).
- Fastest time: about 40 minutes; trains run roughly 7am to 9pm.
- Fare: cheap — second class is in the region of ¥45–50.
- Check your departure station: the fast line runs from Nanchang East, but Nanchang has several stations, so confirm on your ticket.
- At the far end: from Jingdezhen North it's a short taxi, Didi or local bus into town and to the main sites.
Book on 12306.cn (the official railway site) or via an English-friendly reseller like Trip.com. Your passport is your ticket ID, so bring it to the gate. A slower long-distance bus exists too, but the train wins on every count.
What to see and do
Three sites anchor a visit, and you should leave room for a fourth thing — getting your own hands muddy.
- Ancient Kiln & Folk Customs Museum (古窑民俗博览区) — a national 5A attraction and the best single introduction. It preserves and actually fires reconstructed historic kilns, including a record-holding wood-fired dragon kiln, with live demonstrations of the painstaking traditional process. Open roughly 8am–5pm; tickets run higher in peak season (around ¥85, Apr–Oct) and lower off-season (around ¥45, Nov–Mar).
- Imperial Kiln Museum (御窑博物馆) — the architectural showpiece, a series of brick vaulted halls built over the excavated Ming- and Qing-dynasty imperial kiln site, displaying relics painstakingly pieced back together from imperial "rejects." Ticket around ¥60; open about 9am–5pm; closed Mondays.
- Taoxichuan (陶溪川) — the modern counterpoint: a former state porcelain factory reborn as a district of studios, cafés, galleries and a famous creative market. The market runs Friday to Sunday (afternoon into the evening), so time an overnight around it if you can.
- Hands-on pottery — throwing or painting your own piece is widely available and the bit most visitors remember. Prices vary a lot by studio (and some guesthouses throw it in free), so ask around locally rather than expecting a fixed rate.
How long to stay
Jingdezhen works as either a long day trip or an overnight.
- Day trip (long): with a ~40-minute train, leave Nanchang early, do the Ancient Kiln museum plus Taoxichuan, and be back for dinner.
- One night: add the Imperial Kiln Museum and a proper hands-on pottery session.
- Two nights: ideal if ceramics or pottery-shopping is a real interest — add studio-hopping and a Friday/Saturday evening at the Taoxichuan market.
One scheduling note: the big museums close on Mondays, so if you only have a Monday, lean into the studios, markets and the Sanbao village area instead.
Combining with Nanchang and the wider region
Because Jingdezhen sits on the Nanchang–Huangshan corridor, it slots neatly into longer loops rather than only an out-and-back. The classic pairing is Jingdezhen with Wuyuan — the famous Huizhou-style villages and terraced fields further along the same rail line toward the Anhui border. Many travellers do Nanchang → Jingdezhen → Wuyuan → back. Sanqingshan, the dramatic Taoist granite peak, is also in this northeastern corner. If you've only got a few days, treat Nanchang as your base and pick Jingdezhen plus one neighbour.
- Classic combo: Nanchang → Jingdezhen → Wuyuan (same northeastern corridor).
- Add Sanqingshan (三清山) for granite-peak scenery if you have spare days.
- Best done as part of a 3–5 day northeastern Jiangxi loop out of Nanchang.
Best time to visit
Like the rest of Jiangxi, Jingdezhen is most comfortable in autumn — roughly August to October brings cooler, clearer days that are perfect for wandering between kilns and outdoor markets. Spring (around February to April) is the next-best window. Summer is hot and humid with wet spells; winter is cool and damp. Whatever the season, build an overnight around a Friday or Saturday if the Taoxichuan market is a priority.
Quick tips
- In peak season, grab your train ticket a day or two ahead (12306.cn or Trip.com); bring your passport to the gate.
- Confirm you're leaving from Nanchang East (南昌东) — the city has several stations.
- Book a hands-on pottery slot ahead at busy times; it's the part people remember most.
- Pack tissues — public toilets at attractions rarely stock paper.
- Staying over? Base yourself near Taoxichuan to be walkable to the market and cafés.
Images: "01-Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum" by Zhu Pei (CC BY-SA 4.0); "景德镇古窑民俗博览区 精美瓷器 02" and "景德镇古窑民俗博览区 古建筑与制造瓷器的窑 01" by Liuxingy (CC BY-SA 4.0); "Taoxichuan 20241019" by Simon Wade (CC BY-SA 4.0) — all via Wikimedia Commons.
Last verified: 2026-05. Train times, fares, ticket prices and opening hours change often — please double-check official sources before you travel.
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