From Industrial Decay to Cultural Renaissance: The Transformation of Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue

People often say that Taoxichuan is not merely an object, not just a collection of buildings, not simply a district—it represents the most fashionable artistic heartbeat of the porcelain capital, embodying an ideal and a spirit. Without experiencing it firsthand, one can hardly imagine how a relatively small fourth or fifth-tier Chinese city like Jingdezhen could sustain such comprehensive cultural offerings: rotating seasonal exhibitions and lectures that serve as bridges connecting every artisan to the world. Strolling through the streets of the ceramic art avenue Taoxichuan, you can feel the millennium-old pulse of the porcelain capital emanating from every brick and tile you pass, its warmth and human vitality revealing an enduring and flourishing life force.

Jingdezhen’s history traces back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty, when it was known as Changnan Town. During the prosperous Tang period, Changnan Town gained fame for its porcelain. However, it also endured a period of profound challenges. In the late 1990s, state-owned porcelain factories faced successive waves of layoffs, with obsolete workshop equipment left unattended and tens of thousands of unemployed workers voicing their grievances. Twenty-two old factory buildings, various tunnel kilns and furnaces fell into disrepair, surrounded by shantytowns, stalled real estate projects, and widespread sewage, leaving residents deeply dissatisfied. Jingdezhen was once ranked among the top ten most polluted and chaotic cities in China. With empty coffers and laid-off workers clinging to outdated mindsets and state enterprise job security, demanding explanations everywhere, money was desperately needed—but where would it come from? From disorder to order, from decay to organization, Jingdezhen moved forward through exploration. The renovation project launched in 2012, with preservation as the first priority. Protecting both the above-ground architecture of the old city and 700-year-old underground artifacts, Jingdezhen’s development proceeded without cutting a single tree, demolishing a single building, or selling a piece of scrap metal. From the original, natural fragmentation, they gradually organized and added elements, creating what is now a dream-making space for young people. A closed old city was transformed into a tourism destination without walls, a fashion hub.

Beginning in 2015 with the first batch of young entrepreneurs recruited to set up stalls at the Taoxichuan ceramic art avenue, the gradual accumulation of foot traffic created available space. Combined with national policy support, funding, project incubation, sales channels, and university-industry research partnerships followed. Many young people seeking development opportunities have settled here, purchasing cars and homes. On one hand, there are traditional skills and profound historical cultural foundations passed down through generations; on the other, so-called “Jingpiao”—young people lacking skills who left first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. These two groups found common ground. Under the guidance of district administrators, through skills training and live-streaming bases, Jingdezhen not only helped them find life direction but also provided spiritual sustenance and value recognition. “Weekend Markets,” “Yi Space,” “Yi Guest Actions,” and “Online Taoxichuan”—projects and quality communities with deep cultural foundations emerged one after another, forming an active local culture. Local art galleries, museums, and cultural creative institutions have also provided rich material foundations and conditions for the young entrepreneurs here.

As evening lights illuminate and night falls gently, the current Taoxichuan Wenchuang Block pulses with youthful vitality. The night scene, complemented by golden lines outlined by surrounding lights, resembles the perfect photo-worthy destination. Music from Hutaoli drifts and echoes through the crowds. While preserving historical cultural veins and urban memory, the Taoxichuan art center has achieved truly sustainable development.