Zibo, Shandong Province, has secured funding from the Ministry of Culture to develop materials and processing techniques of a porcelain type native to the region called bone china.

The project, which is expected to take two years, is the only one in Shandong to be included in the central government's 2011 list of cultural innovation projects, says the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture.

Taishan Ceramics Company will carry out the project, which aims to raise the value of ceramic products and make them into collectibles.