"The Jingdezhen sites highlight another important dimension that was not really represented before, concerning artisanal production," he said. He added that the new inscription opens an important chapter in technological knowledge, skill and craftsmanship, and represents cultural exchanges over centuries.

　　According to Wei Qing, the author of the World Heritage nomination dossier, Jingdezhen represents an exceptional and unparalleled example of technological innovation, artistic achievement and industrial organization in porcelain production from the 13th to the 19th centuries.

　　From the bluish-white wares of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) to the blue-and-white ceramics of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the painted porcelain of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the famille rose and enamel wares of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Jingdezhen continuously expanded the possibilities of porcelain craftsmanship.

An artisan paints floral patterns on porcelain in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, on July 7. LIU LIXIN / CHINA NEWS SERVICE

　　Cross-cultural exchange

　　Wei said Jingdezhen's success was also built on cross-cultural exchange. The city combined ceramic traditions from northern and southern China, incorporated pigments introduced from the Middle East and Europe, and blended domestic and foreign decorative aesthetics.

　　Blue-and-white porcelain is one of the best examples. Produced by combining China's porcelain-making techniques with Persian cobalt blue pigment, it became a defining influence on the "chinoiserie" style that flourished in European decorative arts throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.