Art in Ruins: Why Old Factories Became Jingdezhen‘s
Art in Ruins: Why Old Factories Became Jingdezhen‘s Coolest Neighborhoods Jingdezhen has a genius way of handling abandoned industrial sites: turn them into art districts and let the young people move in. Taoxichuan is the most famous example. An old state-run porcelain factory transformed into a 400,000-square-meter cultural zone with galleries, shops, cafes, and a hotel. Red brick buildings, old smokestacks, and modernist glass additions all coexist. Sculpture Factory (also called Lefang Creative Square) is another one. This is where the famous Saturday ceramics market happens. The factory buildings have been subdivided into small studios and shops. You‘ll find potters at work behind large windows, students selling experimental pieces, and cafes tucked into former loading docks. 740 Factory is the hidden gem. Less polished than Taoxichuan, more raw. Young artists rent spaces here because it’s cheap. The galleries feel personal rather than institutional. A good place to see what the next generation of Jingdezhen potters is making before they become famous.