The Zhushan area in central Jingdezhen was the location of the imperial kiln workshops that supplied the Chinese court for most of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Imperial Kiln Museum (御窑博物馆) sits above the archaeological site and was designed by architect Zhu Pei as a series of brick-vaulted structures that echo the form of the old climbing kilns. The museum opened in 2020 and immediately became one of the most architecturally interesting buildings in Jiangxi.
The collection focuses on the archaeological finds from the Zhushan site — hundreds of reconstructed and fragmentary pieces spanning from the Yuan through the Qing dynasties, showing how imperial porcelain styles evolved over five centuries of court patronage. The quality of the collection is exceptional, and the interpretation is thoughtful. The building's vaulted interior creates a dramatic setting for the ceramics displayed inside. Allow two hours.