Known as the “Source of the World’s Porcelain Capital” and the “Hometown of Chinese Tea,” Fuliang County sits in northeastern Jiangxi Province under Jingdezhen City. It covers 2,851 square kilometers with a population of 279,534 as of 2024. First established as Xinping County in 621 AD during the Tang dynasty, it was renamed Fuliang in 742 AD — meaning “floating bridge” — after the local practice of lashing logs together to cross floodwaters. Fuliang is also a National Ecological Civilization Demonstration County and a “Chinese Natural Oxygen Bar.”
🏭 Featured Industries
- Ceramics: Fuliang is the birthplace of Jingdezhen porcelain. The German geologist Ferdinand von Richthofen named the local clay “Kaolin,” a term now used internationally. The region has over 2,000 years of pottery history and hosts 5 universities with nearly 60,000 students in ceramics and arts.
- Tea: Fuliang tea has been famous since the Tang dynasty. The poet Bai Juyi wrote in the “Pipa Song”: “The merchant cared more for profit than parting — last month he went to Fuliang to buy tea.” The county has 13,690 hectares of tea plantations and produced 14,000 tonnes of tea in 2024. Fuliang Gongfu black tea won a gold medal at the 1915 Panama World Expo. It is recognized as one of the world’s three high-aroma black teas.
- Agriculture: In 2024, grain output reached 162,000 tonnes. The county also produces oilseeds, vegetables, and fruit. The “Fuliang Rice” brand is a national agricultural geographical indication product.
- Advanced Manufacturing: Fuliang is developing a “3+N” industrial system focused on advanced ceramics, general aviation, and new materials, supplemented by auto parts, intelligent manufacturing, and electronic information. The low-altitude economy is emerging, with a general airport now in operation.
🗺 Tourist Attractions
- Gaoling-Yaoli Scenic Area: A 4A-level national tourist attraction covering 86 square kilometers. It features ancient porcelain mines, the old town of Yaoli, the Dongbu ancient street, the Wanghu ice-eroded canyon, and the Nanshan Waterfall. The area is known as the “Source of Porcelain, Hometown of Tea, and Sea of Forests.”
- Fuliang Ancient County Government Office: A 4A-level national tourist attraction. It features a well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty county government office, known as the “Best County Office South of the Yangtze.” The nearby Fuliang Red Pagoda was built in 961 AD and is the oldest surviving large pagoda in Jiangxi.
- Huangyao Scenic Area: A 4A-level national tourist attraction. It offers a full recreation of imperial porcelain production from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, with live demonstrations of traditional techniques.
- Gaoling Ancient Mine Site: A national key cultural relic protection site. It preserves the complete history of kaolin mining, from open-pit and tunnel extraction to processing and transport to Jingdezhen by boat.
🎭 Culture
- Water-Powered Trip-Hammer Making: A national-level intangible cultural heritage. This ancient technique for processing porcelain clay using water-powered hammers has been practiced for over 2,000 years.
- Fuliang Gongfu Black Tea Making: A provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. The process includes withering, rolling, fermenting, and baking, producing a distinctive red tea known for its tight, shiny leaves and sweet aroma.
- Fuliang Pearl Lantern Dance: A provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. A traditional folk dance performed only during the Lantern Festival, featuring beautifully crafted lanterns made from bamboo and paper.
🚗 Getting There
- Air: Jingdezhen Luojia Airport is only 3 km from the county seat, with direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou.
- Rail: Fuliang has a high-speed rail station — Fuliang East Station on the Nanchang-Jingdezhen-Huangshan High-Speed Railway. The Anhui-Jiangxi Railway and the Jiujiang-Jingdezhen-Quzhou Railway also pass through the county.
- Road: Three expressways serve Fuliang: Hangzhou-Ruili, Jinan-Guangzhou, and Qimen-Huangshan. National Highway 206 runs through the county. The county has 6 expressway exits and is a national model county for rural roads.
🍜 Local Cuisine
- Fuliang Tea: A national geographical indication product. Fuliang Gongfu black tea is one of the world’s three high-aroma black teas. Yaoli Nenrui green tea also holds national geographical indication protection.
- Fuliang Rice: A national geographical indication product. Known for its bright, translucent grains and fragrant, slightly sweet taste that stays soft even when cooled.
- Yaoli Wild Mushroom Soup: Local wild mushrooms from the forested mountains of Yaoli, simply cooked in a clear broth to preserve their natural flavor.