A peerless maker of fine china for 400 years, Jingdezhen's world dominance succumbed first to commercial espionage and competition and then to a century of war, chaos and communism. Less than a decade ago, all but two of its 32 state porcelain factories had closed.

Free-market reforms and outside investment are turning things around. But while China has surged as a low-cost global manufacturer, Jingdezhen, which still makes some things the old way, is struggling to reclaim its past glory.

Today, reforms have freed up production and the government is closing money-losing state factories in favor of smaller operations. Over half the city's urban population of 120,000 works at making, painting or selling porcelain. Porcelain sales reached $96 million last year and are growing.

Though fine artistry abounds, Jingdezhen's quality still lags - as does its domestic competitors' - compared with manufacturers in Japan, France, Mexico and elsewhere. Shapes are uneven, designs are outdated and the raw input, mixed porcelain clay known as paste, is less pure than that used in the past and currently in the West, said Nilsson, the Swedish expert. Still, Nilsson said, Jingdezhen has what it takes to make wares highly competitive in style and price.

(Eastday.com 12/11/2000)