Misty Mountains, Fresh Water Lakes, and the Porcelain City!

If you are a traveler looking for a place that will give you an interesting option, then Jiangxi province in southern China is definitely the place for you! The pristine beauty of its misty mountains and fresh water lakes will enchant you. Its modern as well as ancient Chinese historical sites will whet your appetite for learning about its culture. To top it off, “China’s Capital of Porcelain” is located here, thus satisfying the shopper in us all.
Jiangxi province, with a population of over 40 million larger than the whole Canada, is situated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Its neighboring provinces include Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong (or Canton), Hunan, Hubei and Anhui.
Jiangxi province got its name during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) and because the Gan River runs through this province from north to south, it is also called Gan for short. It covers an area of 1,669,000 square kilometers, almost seven times of the size of the Great Britain.

Jiangxi is an eastern inland province in China, where few tourists actually go. It is a hidden jewel, however, with its natural beauty and rich history.
When to Go
Jiangxi has four seasons, so one can pick the season of one’s choice. Try to avoid the spring months such as April and May, however, when it is wet, humid and rainy.
Jiangxi can be cold in the spring and winter. Summer could be hot and the autumn could be dry. The annual rainfall averages 1400-1800 millimeters and the average temperature of the province is 3-9C in January and 27-31C in July.
Natural Beauty Around
Jiangxi province is a showcase for its natural beauty, with green mountains, winding lakes and rivers. The largest fresh water lake in China is in the south-east of the province. It is called Poyang Lake, with nearly 3,000 white cranes migrating here in winter, which provide a spectacular sight!
Travel to the east in Jiangxi is Mt. Lushan, a well-known summer resort with its misty mountains, enveloping clouds, fast streams, deep pools and waterfalls. Mysterious and enchanting sceneries nestle in its secluded valleys and deep ravines.
Su Dongpo, a well-known Chinese poet who lived in the Song Dynasty between 960-1279, wrote a poem in honor of the “Cloud Sea” of Mt. Lushan. It says “the true beauty of Mt. Lushan can not be recognized in the cloud” and it has since become a common expression among the Chinese in describing “truth and beauty can not be recognized in the mist”.
If one wants to explore the recent past of China’s history, one can go to Jinggangshan. It enjoys the dual reputation of being the cradle of the Chinese revolution, and possessing natural beauty no less than that of Mt. Lushan.

Go Jianxi

Porcelain City - Jingdezhen

...”as white as jade, as bright as a mirror, as thin as a paper, as clear as a bell”...
Jingdezhen is situated in the northeast of Jiangxi province, China. It has a population of over 1.5 million, with an area of 5,256 square kilometers, a size larger than that of the Ottawa region (4,662 square kilometres).
For over 2,000 years, Jingdezhen has been known as the Porcelain Capital of the world. Originally known as “Xinping”, the city’s name was changed to Jingdezhen (or Jingde Town) when Emperor Jingde reigned in the southern Song dynasty from 1004 to 1007. Emperor Jingde decreed that all the pieces made for the court be marked ‘made in the Jingde period’.
The porcelain industry experienced further development during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when skills were perfected and the quality refined. Government kilns were set up to cater exclusively to the needs of the imperial house. For centuries, the city has been considered to be China’s most important centre for porcelain production. Ceramics were produced here as far back as the Han dynasty between 206-220 BC. The imperial porcelain was so exquisite that it was described as being “as white as jade, as bright as a mirror, as thin as paper, and as clear as a bell”.
Today, Jingdezhen remains a national center for porcelain production. The most famous porcelain from Jingdezhen is the blue and white pattern. It now boasts a ceramic research institute, a ceramic museum, one porcelain chemical plant, two porcelain machinery plants, two refractory materials factories, five kaolin quarries, 15 porcelain factories, and dozens of porcelain processing works.Jingdezhen is a place which attracts tourists with ecological interests as well. More than 30 historic ruins have been found illustrating ceramic production in the past, such as the famous ancient Kaolin, the ruin of Hutian ancient kiln, and the ruin of the royal kilns from the Ming and Qing Dynasty, all of which are listed with China’s National and Provincial Historical Relic’s Protection Units.
Besides ceramic interests, there are many landscapes and sights worthy of being explored. The clusters of Ming and Qing Buildings are still perfectly preserved, reflecting Anhui architectural styles. Among the buildings, an ancient county office can be found in Fuliang, which is known as the number one specimen south of the Yangtze River and the second in China. Besides, there is fairyland in Hongyuan, Sun Island, the Moon Lake, the Yangfu Temple, the Lijushan Mountain, the Jade Green Lake…
The names of these places are reminders of great poets and philosophers who once resided there. Visit Jingdezhen, a city with ancient trademarks and plenty of beautiful ceramics in all shapes and sizes from $1 to pieces worth millions. (Source: China Travel)