Creatives find their muse in small town culture

"It's easy to start up your own business in Jingdezhen, but you have to be more creative and have better-than-average skills to meet the market.

"After all, your products have to sell out to make a living," she said.

Admist the young Chinese people flocking to Jingdezhen, foreigners have also found a home in the small city.

According to incomplete statistics, more than 5,000 foreign artists live in Jingdezhen. Thousands of ceramic industry professionals gather for the annual Jingdezhen China International Ceramic Fair every October, seeking collaboration and inspiration.

Nick Vest, a 31-year-old artist from Pennsylvania in the United States, arrived in Jingdezhen eight years ago and planted the roots of his artistic career as a sculptor. Over the years, he has presented more than 25 ceramic exhibitions across nine different countries, with his most recent exhibition taking place at the Jingdezhen Sculpture Factory.

"I hope to spend more time in China, especially in Jingdezhen. The artistic atmosphere here is so vibrant, and the fusion of art and life is more pronounced," Vest said.

In addition to serving as a place of inspiration for ceramic artists, Jingdezhen's charms present new opportunities for commercialization.

In 2019, Jingdezhen was approved as a national ceramic culture inheritance and innovation pilot zone. Hu Xuemei, Jingdezhen's mayor, said this has opened new doors.