Jingdezhen attracts young Chinese seeking alternatives to city life
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Tens of thousands of young Chinese people, mostly from Generation Z, are moving to Jingdezhen, a historic city in eastern China, and calling themselves “jing piao” or “Jingdezhen drifters.”
These individuals are leaving demanding jobs in major cities to pursue creative and entrepreneurial ventures in a place renowned for its 1,000-year history of porcelain production. Jingdezhen recently gained recognition from UNESCO, with 45 of its handicraft porcelain industrial sites added as a world heritage site in July.
The shift reflects a broader trend in China where many young people are rejecting intense competition, known as “neijuan”, and instead choosing to “lie flat” by prioritising wellbeing or to reinvent themselves. Shao Haichuan, an artist from Jiangsu province, left engineering to open a design business in Jingdezhen’s Taoxichuan market, attracted by the city’s artistic community and lower business costs. Taoxichuan charges a 10% commission on sales rather than fixed rent, making it easier for new businesses to start.
Even some with local ties are joining this movement. Du Ningxin, a fifth-generation porcelain maker, considers herself a “Jingdezhen drifter” as she reinterprets traditional techniques with a modern aesthetic. The city’s long history of craftsmanship is preserved in places like the Imperial Kiln Museum, which holds a vast collection of porcelain including a Ming Dynasty “chicken cup” that sold for $36 million in 2014.
Jingdezhen’s history also includes creating custom porcelain for international traders, dating back to the 16th century, demonstrating a long-standing connection to global markets.
