The Rare Finds of Beijing Antique Markets

When visiting Beijing's antique markets, it becomes clear that China is a country with more history than it knows what to do with. From centuries old relics to last year's DVDs, almost every conceivable thing produced in China can be found in Beijing's antique markets. Panjiayuan Market gets all the hype, but Beijng certainly has more to offer. William Wang rummages through the detritus to find the hidden treasures.

Tianya Antique City -- Posh Antique Boutiques

Beijing antique markets run the gamut in terms of style, and places like Tianya Antique City are a world apart from blankets on the ground, covered in dusty items.

The building is an imposing nine stories of boutique style stores, each selling their own specialty. Each floor has a long corridor, bordered in by window displays which seem like museum exhibitions. The feeling is admittedly a touch austere, but some of the individuals in the establishments are very friendly once you enter the door.

Tianya is perfect for those who don't have time to pore through piles of substandard or broken goods, as this market definitely has higher standards (and prices) than its competition. The market has implemented control measures to encourage the sale of genuine artifacts. A national gemstone testing centre is present to confirm item quality. It crosses one's mind that many of the objects for sale could be better protected in the National Museum.

The Royal Culture Academy of the Daily History Editorial store up on the top floor is a particular highlight, where an impressive collection of Tibetan ceremonial masks and costumes from the Qing Dynasty are on display. The terrifying, larger than life masks have been obtained at auctions abroad and are so rare they are not for sale.

Another notable store is the Xu Art & Antique store, which has an impressive collection of glass snuff bottles, impossibly painted from within. One particular 3.5 cm tall bottle holds a world record for having no less than one hundred excruciatingly detailed tigers painted on it. This store also sells a variety of snuff, and visitors can even try a snort or two.

Beijing Curio City -- Antique Overload

And if people still want to seek antique boutiques after perusing nine stories of them, then just across the street are 300-some more antique stores at Beijing Curio City, a massive shopping mall complex.

The feeling here is definitely more relaxed than Tianya, a feeling of openness aided by the bright open space at the building's core. The feeling is more casual, and the goods are accordingly less opulent. It's a pleasant enough space to while away an afternoon, poking your nose into stores to browse jewelry, clocks, paintings, rugs and knickknacks of quality ranging from middle of the road to exquisite.

Be prepared to bargain, as nothing has a price tag. But be forewarned that judging the true price of items here could be difficult to ascertain. A salesperson in Seer Art Consultant Company wasn't able to state a definite price on some Tibetan jewelry. "The prices of rings are priced differently according to the different levels of workmanship, culture and historical relevance," he reported. "It's hard to judge or set the price of each antique." But don't be surprised when prices go into the thousands of yuan.

Tianya Antique MarketAddress: 6 Huawei South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Beijing Curio CityAddress: 21 South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Source: CRI by William Wang

Shoppers' top destinations

European nations were the most favorite shopping destinations for Chinese buyers in 2012 and they are set to spend even more shopping overseas, according to a report by Global Blue, a tourism shopping service provider.

Chinese shoppers spent a record 3 billion euros ($3.9 billion) on duty-free shopping in 2012, an increase of nearly 60 percent year-on-year, according to Nyon, a Switzerland-based company. The figure could see a 20 to 25 percent growth in 2013, it added.

The amount only included transactions handled by Global Blue.

"China represented a quarter of total transactions for us. The nation is the source of the world's largest number of travelers," said Arjen Kruger, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer of Global Blue.

The company report showed more than 80 percent of Chinese tourists see shopping as a vital part of their overseas trips.

Watches and jewelry were among the most favorite items for Chinese shoppers, followed by fashion and lifestyle items.

Along with the Chinese government's intensified battle against bribery and its advocacy of a frugal lifestyle, analysts said the government's move will, to some extent, deter newly rich Chinese from spending excessively on luxury goods such as watches and jewelry.

However, Kruger believes it is still too early to assess the effect on the shopping industry.
"The actual impact may not show itself in the upcoming quarters," he said.

First choice

European countries were the top options for Chinese shoppers, said the report. Most Chinese tourists chose to visit France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom in 2012.

The number of Chinese tourists going to the United States accounted for about a quarter of those who visited European countries.

Although the United States government started to lure international travelers by pushing its tourism industry, Europe will remain the top destinations for Chinese travelers.

France was the top choice for global travelers but Chinese people are especially fond of going to Germany than shoppers from other regions, according to Kruger.

In addition to the fact that Chinese buyers are "very much appreciated", the quality of German goods and strong economic ties between the two nations also helped to boost Chinese people's spending in the European country.

Furthermore, the minimum amount that shoppers have to spend in order to enjoy tax benefits in Germany is significantly lower than in other countries, a hidden factor that may boost spending.

Any purchase above 25 euros qualifies for a tax refund in Germany. Overseas travelers have to spend about 250 euros on each purchase in order to enjoy a refund in Switzerland, Kruger said.

"It does not necessarily have to be goods with expensive price tags for Chinese shoppers. Less-expensive items could also have an accumulated impact on total spending," he said.

Germany's role as an important entry and exit port in Europe also attracted a large number of Chinese tourists.

The country has two major international airports in Munich and Frankfurt. Berlin will become a third major hub for Chinese tourists to enter Europe.

The average transaction size for Chinese shoppers was 875 euros last year, the highest among all nationalities, according to Global Blue. The second highest spenders were Thais, who on average spent 765 euros.

"Most of the top spenders in the past were visitors from Asian countries including Malaysia, Japan and Singapore. It reflected the overall economic development in that region," said Kruger.

Because expenses such as traveling and hotels do not include tax refunds, it is difficult to estimate the total spending of Chinese tourists, he added.

Traveling behavior

It is easy to tell Chinese travelers from other Asian nationalities because Chinese people tend to travel in groups.

Although the number of independent Chinese travelers surged over the past decade, roughly 60 to 70 percent of Chinese shoppers travel in groups, said Kruger, adding the situation is very likely to continue over the next decade or so.

"If the visa process in some European nations can be simplified, it will certainly attract more Chinese travelers in the future," he added.

Worries remain that Chinese people visiting Europe may spend less because of the thriving e-commerce business in China, which may offset Chinese people's purchasing power overseas.

Source: By Gao Yuan (China Daily)

Shopping in Hong Kong

This excerpt from Lonely Planet’s Hong Kong guide takes you through the territory’s shopping highlights – and the pitfalls to avoid.

While any international brand worthy of its logo has at least one outlet here, Hong Kong’s reputation as a bargain hunter’s paradise is largely a thing of the past. So what’s worth shopping for? Clothing (off the peg or tailored), shoes, jewellery, luggage and, to a lesser degree nowadays, cameras and electronic goods are the city’s strong suits. Excellent art and antiques shops also abound.

Bargaining

Bargaining is a way of life at retail outlets throughout Hong Kong, with the exception of department stores and clothing chain shops, where the prices marked are the prices paid. Some visitors operate on the theory that you can get the goods for half the price originally quoted. Many Hong Kong residents believe that if you can bargain something down that low, then you shouldn’t be buying from that shop anyway. If the business is that crooked – and many are, particularly in the Tsim Sha Tsui tourist ghetto – it will probably find other ways to cheat you (such as selling you electronic goods with missing components or no international warranty).

Guarantee & warranty

Every guarantee should carry a complete description of the item (including the model and serial numbers), as well as the date of purchase, the name and address of the shop it was purchased from, and the shop’s official name chop (stamp). A common practice is to sell grey-market equipment (ie imported by somebody other than the official local agent). Such equipment may have no guarantee at all, or the guarantee may be valid only in the country of manufacture (which will probably be either China or Japan).

Antiques

Most of Hong Kong Island’s antique shops are bunched along Wyndham St and Hollywood Rd in Central and Sheung Wan. The shops at the western end of Hollywood Rd tend to be cheaper and carry more dubious ‘antiques’ – tread carefully through this minefield of reproductions, books, magazines, Chinese propaganda posters, badges from the Cultural Revolution and so on. For Chinese handicrafts and other goods (hand-carved wooden pieces, ceramics, paintings, cloisonné, silk garments), the main places to go are the large China-run emporiums scattered throughout the territory, such as Chinese Arts & Crafts and Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium.

Clothing

The best places to find designer fashion and top-end boutiques are in the big shopping centres and malls, especially Landmark in Central, Pacific Place in Admiralty and Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong. The best hunting grounds for warehouse sales and factory extras are generally in Tsim Sha Tsui at the eastern end of Granville Rd; check out Austin Ave and Chatham Rd South as well. On Hong Kong Island, Jardine’s Bazaar in Causeway Bay has low-cost garments and there are several sample shops and places to pick up cheap jeans in Lee Garden Rd. The street markets on Temple St in Yau Ma Tei and Tung Choi St in Mong Kok have the cheapest clothes. You may also try Li Yuen St East and Li Yuen St West, two narrow alleyways linking Des Voeux Rd Central with Queen’s Rd Central. They are a jumble of inexpensive clothing, handbags, backpacks and costume jewellery.

Computers

Hong Kong is a popular, competitively priced place to buy personal computers. Most people buy their computers in Kowloon, where there are loads of centres selling computers and related equipment. There’s a much greater choice and prices are lower, but ‘caveat emptor’ is the phrase to bear in mind as you browse. Hong Kong Island does have a couple of reasonable computer arcades, including the Wan Chai Computer Centre.

Gems & jewellery

The Chinese attribute various magical qualities to jade, including the power to prevent ageing and accidents. The circular disc with a central hole worn around many Hong Kong necks represents heaven in Chinese mythology. The Jade Market in Yau Ma Tei is diverting, but unless you’re knowledgeable about jade, limit yourself to modest purchases. Hong Kong carries a great range of pearls, and opals are said to be good value. Retail prices for other precious stones are only marginally lower than elsewhere. The more reputable jewellery-shop chains will issue a certificate that states exactly what you are buying and guarantees that the shop will buy it back at a fair market price.

Photographic equipment

Never buy a camera without a price tag. This will basically preclude most of the shops in Tsim Sha Tsui. One of the best spots in Hong Kong for buying photographic equipment is Stanley St in Central, where competition is keen. Everything carries price tags, though some low-level bargaining may be possible. Tsim Sha Tsui has a couple of shops on Kimberley Rd dealing in used cameras and there are plenty of photo shops on Sai Yeung Choi St in Mong Kok.

Watches

Shops selling watches are ubiquitous in Hong Kong and you can find everything from a Rolex to Russian army timepieces and diving watches. Avoid the shops without price tags. The big department stores and City Chain are fine, but compare prices.

Leather goods & luggage

Most of what gets sent to the Hong Kong market from China is export quality, but check carefully because there is still a lot of rubbish on sale. All the big brand names such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci are on display in Hong Kong department stores, and you’ll also find some local vendors in the luggage business. If you’re just looking for a casual bag or daypack, check out Li Yuen St East and Li Yuen St West in Central or Stanley Market.

Source: Lonely Planet Oct 12, 2012

Wangfujing, Beijing’s most famous shopping street

Wangfujing, Beijing’s most famous shopping street (Source: fotopedia)

Visitors from overseas to get refunds

(China Daily) China has introduced a nationwide tax refund policy for the first time to encourage spending by more overseas tourists.

But a closer look at the plan suggests that the country has a lot more to do to achieve this goal, according to observers.

Overseas visitors will soon be able to claim tax refunds on purchases across China, the Ministry of Finance said over the weekend.

Tourists from overseas and those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have lived on the Chinese mainland for no more than 183 days will be eligible for a rebate of 11 percent on consumer goods bought at designated department stores.

The minimum purchase to qualify for a tax refund is 500 yuan (about $81) at any one store in a day.

A pilot tax refund program was launched in Hainan province on Jan 1, 2011. The new policy announcement increases the products that are eligible for refunds and the purchasing sites.

It is unclear how many cities will apply to join the plan. Southern Metropolis News reported that Hengqin, an area near Macao, will apply to join, but it is not known if Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, will do so.

However, according to experts and expatriates, the biggest problem the policy faces is that most foreign tourists, unlike their Chinese counterparts visiting overseas countries, do not come to China to buy well-known brands.

Wendy Fung, a 28-year-old US citizen who has lived in China for more than 5 years, said most first-time tourists to the country tend to buy Chinese-inspired souvenirs or Chinese antiques, for example porcelain tea sets, intricately painted fans, or panda hats and T-shirts.

"It would be great if these souvenirs or antiques can be included in the designated shops," she said.

But Fung said that many international visitors, regardless of the number of times they have been to China, are bargain-hunters.

They want to buy Chinese-made clothing or accessories from vendors' stalls at flea markets where they can get good deals, which are not available in the designated stores, she said.

A manager at a duty-free shop in Shanghai said the policy may not prove that popular, as international tourists do not have much enthusiasm for products they can buy more cheaply at home.

Leading retail industry expert Ding Haozhou, chief executive of Zonfa Commercial Management Group, said more than 60 percent of Chinese consumers now shop for luxury products overseas, and this trend is predicted to continue.

Maintaining this high-end consumption in China should be the policy's priority, he said.

Ding also said duty-free shops should come up with more brands that consumers can find only in 

China. Otherwise, they will buy the same products at home much more cheaply.

According to Fitch Ratings, the Chinese retail industry has been hit by a downturn since the second half of 2013, and the outlook will remain negative for 2015.

The challenges faced by Chinese department stores last year, including stiff competition, growing consumer preference for other retail formats, and growth shifting to lower-tier cities, will persist in 2015.

Meanwhile, the number of overseas visitors to China, which has grown steadily in recent years, is still relatively low.

Ctrip, China's largest online travel agency, told China Daily, "The new policy will not boost sales of any internationally known luxury brands in the short term, as Chinese retailers do not enjoy any advantages in terms of price or design.

"However, local high-end brands are very likely to see their sales increase, including sales of silk, tobacco and liquor."

Source: china daily via china.org

China launches tourist tax refund scheme

(Xinhua) Overseas visitors can now claim tax refunds on purchases across China, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced on Friday, to boost inbound trips and domestic consumption.

According to the plan, foreign tourist and those from China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have lived in the Chinese mainland for no more than 183 days -- can receive a rebate of 11 percent on consumer goods purchased at designated department stores.

The minimum purchase for a tax refund is 500 yuan (about $82) at any one store in one day.

China started a pilot tax refund program in south island province of Hainan on Jan 1, 2011.

"The expansion of the program will spur inbound trips and boost the export of China-made commodities," said Liu Shangxi, a senior researcher with the MOF.

Source: xinhua via china daily

Russian ruble's dive sparks shopping spree among Chinese

"I have never seen so many Chinese people in Moscow, it feels like I am shopping back at home," an exchange student told the Shanghai's China Business News on Tuesday afternoon.

In light of Russia's slumping economy, the country has become a shopping haven for big spenders from China, who have cleaned out Moscow's high-end boutiques.

As opposed to a year ago when the yuan was trading at about 6 against the ruble, now as it trades at about 9.7 against the ruble, Chinese shoppers are enjoying savings of nearly 80% in Russia.

At Moscow's upscale Atrium Mall, Chinese shoppers could be seen snapping up top luxury-brand products by Gucci, Louis Vuitton.

"Inside a Louis Vuitton store, purchased handbags from nearby boutiques are piled three layers high as Chinese shoppers continue on their spending spree," said another Chinese, who is a Moscow resident, adding that inventory at the local Chanel, Hermes, and Cartier stores had been exhausted.

Local newspapers are filled with headlines about the dwindling strength of the ruble, which is heading towards 1:100 against the Euro, and 1:80 against the US dollar.

Financial institutions in Moscow have since ceased and barred the public from exchanging the ruble for other currencies, allowing only the reverse, said the Chinese Moscow resident.

Eager shoppers have also cleared the Moscow currency exchange offices of rubles.

The paper also reports that sales of luxury cars have surged by about 60% on a month-on-month basis since November, as Russians scramble to preserve the value of their ruble holdings by purchasing luxury cars manufactured by Lexus, Porsche, Mercedes Benz and Aston Martin.

For Russians, the ruble's decline spells severe consequences in the future. Overnight, the price of a hamburger at a school cafeteria has jumped 10% from 50 to 55 rubles, while other common household goods have also seen prices climb by an average of 20%.

Despite the Russian central bank's announcement to raise the benchmark interest rate from 10.5% to 17% at roughly 1 am Moscow time on Dec. 16, the move could not halt the ruble's decline, which continued to weaken to 67.92 against the dollar after the rate hike the following day.

Philip Uglow, chief economist at MNI Indicators, a German company specializing in providing business and macro-economic reports, said that the Russian central bank is expected to have a hard time convincing the world that it is capable of halting the ruble's dive. A rebound in oil prices may help halt the ruble's downward trajectory, but that is unlikely to happen any time soon, Uglow noted.

Russia's economic prospects have also been exacerbated by Obama's declaration of new US sanctions announced Dec. 17.

Source: Want China Times

Shanghai to offer duty-free shopping

(China Daily) Shanghai is expected to become the first Chinese mainland city to introduce duty-free shopping in the near future.

The municipal finance bureau said at a regular meeting this week that it has started preparation work on selecting suitable tax refund agencies and designated shops.

The local finance authority is holding a consultation process on a possible implementation period, which people might be eligible to use the stores, the likely tax refunds to be offered, and which items might be applicable, before seeking the central government approval to launch the system.

Duty-free shopping is already available in some stores in the island province of Hainan. Foreign tourists and residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have been on the Chinese mainland for no longer than 183 days are eligible for an 11 percent rebate on any purchase of 800 yuan ($129) and above. Industry insiders think the minimum amount might be 500 yuan in Shanghai.

New guidelines on reform and development of the tourism industry released by the State Council in August highlighted how overseas tourists had said in surveys that duty-free shopping would increase the appeal of China as a shopping destination.

The central government has said it is keen to promote the policy to cities and provinces across the country that meet the requirements, and it hopes to come out with detailed regulations by the end of this year.

Disneyland in Shanghai is expected to receive its first visitors in the second half of 2015, and experts say a tax-free policy at sites in the city would add to its appeal for tourists.

Ding Haozhou, chief executive officer of the Shanghai-based Zonfa Commercial Management Group and a leading retail industry expert, said along with the benefits already offered by the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, duty-free shopping would prove a real boon.

"The introduction of such a policy reflects the government's attempt to raise high-end consumption in China, rather than seeing that kind of spending being made overseas, especially since the central government's crackdown on corruption and extravagance," he said.

According to Global Blue, one of the duty-free shopping providers, Chinese overseas shoppers have been the world's biggest spenders for the past six consecutive years, splashing out 815 euros ($1,012) per transaction on average. Last year alone, Chinese consumers accounted for 27 percent of all tax-refund claims made to Global Blue.

Statistics from the Shanghai municipal commerce commission show that the city currently attracts 130 million tourists a year, 7 million of whom are from overseas. Annual tourist spending in the city is estimated at 700 billion yuan, of which 40 billion yuan is spent on high-end products such as jewelry and leather goods.

The most likely products to receive tax-free status are cosmetics, clothing, shoes and wine, said Ding, not exactly the most popular items for overseas tourists, suggesting the move is more targeted at domestic consumers.

Source: By Shi Jing (China Daily)

Chinese Tourists Step Up for Abe as Japanese Shoppers Falter

(Bloomberg) When Jingyan Hou made her first trip to Japan in 1997, the office worker from Beijing spent 200,000 yen ($1,700) during a week-long stay on accommodation, meals, transport and souvenirs.

On her second visit this year, she spent that much on just one Louis Vuitton handbag in Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district.

The increasing wealth of travelers like Hou, 45, underscores the opportunity for Japan to expand its tourism industry as China’s burgeoning middle class holidays abroad. The yen’s slump to a seven-year low against the dollar is also broadening the country’s appeal globally and bolstering the Abe administration’s effort to double visitors by the 2020 Olympics.

“There’s a lot of room to boost the number of foreign tourists coming to Japan with these growing economies in our neighborhood,” said Daiki Takahashi, an economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo. “They’ll have a big impact if the current trend continues.”

While Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s growth strategy faces opposition on many fronts -- from farmers fighting tariff cuts to corporations against outsiders on their boards -- fostering tourism has few detractors. It’s a bright spot in an economy that dropped into recession last quarter as Japanese consumers cut spending after the government increased the sales tax in April to help rein in the world’s biggest debt burden.

Foreign visitors spent 1.5 trillion yen in Japan in the nine months through September, more than all of 2013, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. Money from inbound tourists is on course to surpass spending by Japanese travelers overseas next year for the first time in at least three decades, said Takahashi.

‘Stylish Products’

Hou is doing her part, spending about 1 million yen over a week in October, half of it on shopping.

“I can get more stylish products in Japan than what I can find back in China,” she said, with shopping bags in each hand at the Mitsukoshi department store in Ginza.

Her purchases ranged from clothes and accessories to cosmetics and Pokemon figures.

Chinese tourists are now the world’s top spenders, forking out $129 billion in 2013, according to the World Tourism Organization. Some 2 million mainlanders visited Japan in the first 10 months of 2014, more than double the number from 2006, data from the Japan Tourism Agency shows.

They still have to take the top slot for visitors to Japan, remaining behind South Korea and Taiwan. In all, more than 10 million foreigners traveled to the third-largest economy last year.

Duty Free

While Japan has struggled after the sales-levy bump in April and the yen’s slumped 12 percent, duty free sales at Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd.’s Ginza outlet have almost doubled compared with the same period a year ago, said Kayo Yoshida, a customer service manager at the company.

Mitsukoshi has almost tripled the number of bilingual sales assistants at its Ginza store to 21 this year and is increasing its range of duty free products, said Yoshida.

As Abe seeks to revitalize regional areas, Japan is also attracting foreign tourists to destinations outside the well trodden corridor from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and on to Kyoto.

Sakaiminato city, population of 36,000, is one of the beneficiaries. The west coast port is rebuilding some of the older infrastructure at its harbor as tourists visiting on cruise ships increase to a projected 16,000 this year.

On one day last month, 3,600 Chinese visitors disembarked from a liner, boarded 100 buses and set out sightseeing and shopping, said Tsuyoshi Furuhashi, a spokesman at the local tourism association.

Population Problem

“We need to attract tourists like this as our population declines in Japan,” Furuhashi said.

Japan lowered the minimum income requirements for Chinese nationals seeking tourist visas in 2010 and is considering extending the use of multi-entry visas to the whole country, from just Okinawa now, according to the foreign ministry.

Indian tourists became eligible for multi-entry visas for short sightseeing stays in July and waivers are in place for Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

While Japan is well rated for customer service, transport and cultural attractions, it has a reputation for expensive accommodation.

Manryo Inc., the operator of nine hostels for foreign tourists in Tokyo and Kyoto, has found one solution for visitors trying to keep accommodation costs low.

Love Hotels

Three of its hostels are former love hotels, a common establishment near Japanese railway stations and expressway exits that rent rooms by the hour to couples seeking privacy.

Manryo’s hostel in Tokyo’s Asakusa district offers its cheapest rooms at 2,200 yen per day, versus about 5,500 yen to 10,000 yen for a business hotel.

“We had only 350,000 foreign tourists when Japan hosted the Olympics for the first time in 1964,” said Masataka Ota, chief consultant at Japan Tourism Marketing Co. “It’s amazing to think we may have 20 million next time.”

Source: Bloomberg News by Masaaki Iwamoto and Kyoko Shimodoi

Wangfujing Street in Beijing

Described by some as the 5th Avenue of China, Wangfujing has long been Beijing's top international street. Just a short slide down from the Forbidden City, Wangfujing is a melting pot of culture and architecture with some of the city's most famous shops.

At night the street transforms into an episode of Fear Factor, with Wangfujing Snack Street offering up a freakish selection of foods from grilled scorpion to fried seahorse and silkworm cocoons.

Source: china.org

Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street in Guangzhou

Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street in Liwan District, Guangzhou, is one of the busiest commercial pedestrian streets in China. Located in the old town of Xiguan, the 1,218-meter-long street is lined with more than 300 shops. The street is also a mixed showcase of architecture, cuisine and folk customs. Its architecture features the characteristics of south European and Cantonese style, being both functional and aesthetically pleasing

Source: china.org

China's 'Porcelain Capital' - Jingdezhen

Jingdezhen, also known as Jingde Town, China's "Porcelain Capital", is a city of 1.58 million in Jiangxi Province in eastern China. It is one of the Four Great Towns in China, together with Foshan of Guangdong Province, Hankou of Hubei Province and Zhuxian of Henan Province. The history of producing porcelain can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD). Most people come here to see the ancient ceramics industry. Highly recommended scenic spots include Ceramic History and Culture Zone, Gaoling-Yaoli Scenic Area, Fuliang Ancient Government Office, Hongyan Scenic Area, Deyu Ecological Garden and China Porcelain Garden

Source: china.org