Jingdezhen [key], city (1994 est. pop. 294,000), NE Jiangxi prov., China, on the Chang River. It is world famous for its fine porcelain, made since the Han dynasty (202 b.c.–a.d. 220) from the white clay, kaolin, found near Poyang Lake to the west. Coal is mined in the region. The city reached its greatest fame under the Northern Sung dynasty (c.1000), when it supplied porcelain to the royal household. It declined after heavy damage in the Taiping Rebellion. The name sometimes appears as Ching-te-chen.
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