An ancient kiln with a history of over 600 years in China's "porcelain capital", Jingdezhen, was reignited for the first time this year on Saturday. A rekindling ceremony was held as part of the sideline events of the 2024 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo which kicked off a day earlier.

A total of 1,500 pieces of porcelain were loaded into the ancient Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) gourd kiln in the eastern province of Jiangxi. Following a continuous 24-hour burning process and a further 24 hours of natural cooling, the kiln will be opened on Monday.

The gourd kiln is the shortened form of the gourd-shaped firewood kiln. It first appeared at the end of Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and in the early Ming Dynasty, which had been winded down until the emergence of egg-shaped kiln in early Qing Dynasty(1644-1911).

Hu Jiawang, an inheritor of Jingdezhen's traditional ceramic workshop skills, expressed his hope that this rekindling of the gourd kiln will serve to preserve the kiln's thousand-year legacy, offering insight into the evolution of Jingdezhen's kiln technology and the rich history of ceramic production.

The porcelain crafted in the gourd kiln, once pivotal in China's ceramic exports over 600 years ago, stands as a testament to the region's enduring contribution to global ceramics. The aim is to ensure the continuity of this heritage for generations to come, said Hu.

Since 2009, Jingdezhen has been pursuing a program of kiln restoration and rekindling to preserve the essence of Chinese civilization. Over the past decade, restoration efforts have breathed new life into the ancient kilns of bygone eras.

The China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo, first held in 2004 and formerly the China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair, has become a significant platform to showcase the world's finest porcelain.

Over the past 20 years, the event has drawn around 2,500 overseas enterprises from 49 countries and regions, according to the organizers.