Chen Qing is a Chinese porcelain artist. Her family has done this work since about 1860 in Jingdezhen, a city known as China's "Porcelain Capital." For many years, they have kept the recipe for their special red color a secret. Chen's mother memorized it, and Chen herself only learned it after she turned 30.

Jingdezhen has produced pottery for more than 2,000 years. In 2026, its porcelain sites were added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, an international list of important cultural places. The city's craftspeople still use old techniques that were once used to make porcelain for China's emperors.

The work is slow and very difficult. Painting a single teacup can take several days. Even a tiny bit of dust or a drop of sweat can ruin it. "Mastering a craft is a lifelong process," Chen said.

To protect this heritage, the local Imperial Kiln Institute, a pottery research center, studies and repairs old items. It has started using new technology, including artificial intelligence, to match broken pieces and put them back together.

Today, universities and special programs also bring in young Chinese and foreign artists, including Huang Qi. She studied in the city, then moved away to work, but later decided to return. For her, Jingdezhen's place on the World Heritage List makes the future look brighter.