New 'Source of Jiangnan' cultural heritage park set to open in Deqing

How can we reawaken a millennium-old civilization and breathe new life into its ancient genes? Deqing County in Zhejiang Province, east China, presents an eye-catching solution: the "Source of Jiangnan" Cultural Heritage Park. By weaving together multiple regional origins through immersive exhibits, it offers visitors a rich tapestry of heritage that delves into the heart and soul of Jiangnan.

Growing organically from the area's original fabric of settlements and natural landscape, the park connects five ancient villages: Sheqiao Village, Anquanshan, Yangkou Village, Xiaoshan Yang, and Dongshan Village. These villages share historical and cultural sites, from proto-porcelain kiln sites and ancient bridges to the origins of pearl farming.

When you step into the former site of Sheqiao Village set within the heritage park, a dialogue across time and space begins. Located in its southwest corner, the Porcelain Source Museum focuses on showcasing Deqing's "porcelain-origin culture."

Here, the Porcelain Source Museum is scheduled to open to the public on New Year's Day 2026. Inside the 17,206-square-meter building, displays of precious cultural relics such as pre-historic jade ware, proto-porcelain works from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, gold and silverware from the Tang and Song Dynasties, and calligraphy and paintings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as historical evidence showcasing Deqing as an important source of Jiangnan civilization.

The history of the proto-porcelain kiln sites in Deqing like the Tingziqiao and Huoshaoshan kiln sites date back to the late Shang Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods. The porcelain produced here had a fine texture, uniform glaze color and rich variety of shapes – covering both ritual vessels and daily-use utensils – point to a mature handicraft that skillfully unified body and glaze.

Deqing is located between the hills and the plains of northern Zhejiang Province, said Zheng Jianming, dean of the Institute of Scientific and Technological Archaeology at Fudan University, noting the abundant resources of high-quality kaolin clay in the region for making porcelain. At the same time, the surrounding systematic network of waterways and a rising demand for ritual vessels and daily-use utensils in the Wu and Yue regions also drove the development of the craft.