A foreign artist looks at ceramic works at a ceramic carnival held as a sideline event of the 2025 China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo in Jingdezhen, east China's Jiangxi Province, Oct. 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

　　"Jingdezhen is like an unfolding world map of ceramic culture, and every person who loves ceramics can find a place of their own," said Qurat Ul Ain from Pakistan, who is pursuing a doctoral degree at Jingdezhen Ceramic University.

　　She said she once struggled to decide on a research direction. "Pakistan also has an ancient history of pottery making, but there are no local doctoral programs related to ceramics, nor much systematic research in the field."

　　"It was my mentor who encouraged me to focus on the research of ceramic culture in my country," she said. "Jingdezhen has not only a profound history but also an open international exchange."

　　As early as 2015, the Taoxichuan cultural and creative district in Jingdezhen launched the "Migratory Bird Program," an international artist residency initiative. The program has sent invitations to art institutions in more than 50 countries and regions, attracting 3,600 artists from around the world.

　　The district holds fairs of various sizes regularly. About 28,600 craftspeople have set up stalls there, with an average age of just 28.

　　Matt Watterson, a 31-year-old American ceramic artist, enjoys strolling through the city's fairs, where he often finds old ceramic fragments to incorporate into his own creations.

　　"I can turn my creativity into works by collaborating with the locals here, which is very fulfilling," he said. In his view, the locals' openness and friendliness represent the vibe of this city.