The earliest evidence of people making ceramic was found in the ruins of the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC) in China, says Hu Jiang, director of the Shanghai History Museum.

In 1004, Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) named the town Jingde-named after the moniker given to the era of his reign-in recognition of the town's achievements in the production of high-quality porcelain.

Since then "fires have burned in the kilns of Jingdezhen for more than 1,000 years, which built its reputation as the world's capital of porcelain", Hu says.

Porcelain from Jingdezhen was exported via Guangzhou, the largest trading port in China for centuries.