STORY: China's porcelain capital nurtures dreams of global youth
DATELINE: July 9, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:26
LOCATION: NANCHANG, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Jingdezhen
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI ZHENXING, Entrepreneur in Jingdezhen
3. various of Jingdezhen
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): QIU XINGZHU, Entrepreneur in Jingdezhen
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WANG KAI, Entrepreneur in Jingdezhen
6. various of Jingdezhen
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): CAMILLE KAMI, French artist
8. various of Jingdezhen
9. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): ZHAN SHAOLIN, Artisan
10. various of Zhan Shaolin's studio
11. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): ZHU YIHOU, Entrepreneur in Jingdezhen
12. various of Jingdezhen
13. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): HUA JING, Deputy general manager of Jingdezhen Taoyi cultural development company

STORYLINE:

Jingdezhen, a small city in the mountains of east China's Jiangxi Province, is best known as China's porcelain capital.

In recent years, the city has witnessed a growing influx of young entrepreneurs, drawn from various parts of the world, propelled by their aspirations in the realm of porcelain.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI ZHENXING, Entrepreneur in Jingdezhen
"After I graduated from the university, the platform offered by Taoxichuan (in Jingdezhen) drew my attention.  I think it is a great platform for young people to start a business."

Jingdezhen's history of ceramic-making dates back over 2,000 years. Its role as an official and royal kiln pushed its porcelain-making techniques to the highest in history.

Now it boasts over 10,000 ceramic and related enterprises and more than 15,000 self-employed businesses.

Every weekend, the Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue is bustling with stalls owned by young entrepreneurs.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): QIU XINGZHU, Entrepreneur in Jingdezhen
Setting up a stall here comes at a low cost, with no store rental fees to worry about. All that is required is a modest monthly stall fee of 300 yuan (about 41.64 U.S. dollars), granting the opportunity to operate a stall here four times a month, during the weekend fair.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WANG KAI, Entrepreneur in Jingdezhen
"I began to operate a stall in the Taoxichuan market in 2019. I have found a unique space where my creative ideas can come to life. This platform allows me to transform my ideas into tangible goods that can be traded, bringing me joy and fulfillment.

Among the entrepreneurs and artists who settle in Jingdezhen, many are from overseas.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): CAMILLE KAMI, French artist
"My name is Camille Kami and I was born in France. For me, Jingdezhen is a place where I can both express my artistic creativity and find solace. I like the traditional ceramic crafts of Jingdezhen. I also like the local masters and their teaching methods.

Nowadays, a growing number of international students have chosen to stay in Jingdezhen, thanks to the government's supportive policies and the city's inclusive environment.

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): ZHAN SHAOLIN, Artisan
"In recent years, a growing number of people have been learning traditional handicrafts. They may consider the crafts as hobbies or even entrepreneurial opportunities. We hope that more people, especially young people, could come here to learn the crafts, as the knowledge they possess differs from what we have learned before. With the arrival of these young enthusiasts, the innovation capacity within the porcelain sector is expected to experience significant enhancement.

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): ZHU YIHOU, Entrepreneur in Jingdezhen
"In Jingdezhen, there are no limits to what you can achieve. Anything can be transformed into ceramics, and your imagination knows no bounds."

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): HUA JING, Deputy general manager of Jingdezhen Taoyi cultural development company
"Regardless of the space or business format, any business cannot proceed without people. Particularly, young people bring forth creativity and hold the potential for greater future possibilities."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nanchang, China.
(XHTV)