“Flower arranging should make flowers blush with modesty; compared to paintings, paintings are merely empty.” Ceramics, this treasure that carries the essence of Chinese cultural art, not only bears the patriotic sentiments of generations but also radiates new vitality in the present era. Within the Gaochun Economic Development Zone in Nanjing, Jiangsu GC Porcelain Co., Ltd. is a prime example. During the 14th BRICS Leaders’ Meeting, a blue-and-white enamel teacup produced by the company was featured as a ceremonial item, instantly becoming a focal point and sparking online discussions, with related video views soaring to millions. Additionally, in the recently released list of key cultivation projects for industrial transformation of outstanding copyright works in Jiangsu Province 2025 by the Provincial Publicity Department and others, GC Porcelain’ cultural creative products, including “Prosperous Spring,” stood out among the 29 selected projects. These achievements demonstrate the remarkable success of Jiangsu GC Porcelain Co., Ltd. in promoting Chinese ceramic culture and creating an “international first-class ceramic brand and new landmark of Chinese ceramics.”
However, GC Porcelain’ development journey hasn’t been smooth. At one point, affected by factors such as RMB appreciation and the model of foreign design with domestic OEM production, the company faced significant challenges. To address these difficulties, GC Porcelain actively pursued innovative transformation and worked to improve product quality and brand influence. Today, with the rapid rise of the domestic market and consumption upgrade, demand for high-end ceramic products is growing, and the shift “from needing products to needing brands and quality” has become a new industry trend. GC Porcelain has adapted to this trend, successfully transforming from 100% exports to 70% domestic sales through continuous innovation and quality improvement, forging a unique path of brand development.
Thus, GC Porcelain’ transformation journey officially began. The company established world-leading bone china production lines, Jun glazed ceramics production base, and honeycomb ceramics production base, greatly enriching its product variety and enhancing technological content. GC Porcelain also undertook the industry’s only national “12th Five-Year Plan” technological project – the high-quality daily-use ceramics project, successfully establishing a model production line for high-quality daily-use ceramics. Through introducing advanced international ceramic technology and equipment, the company achieved significant improvements in raw material standardization, equipment modernization, gas-fired kilns, specialized auxiliary materials, and high-end product development. Furthermore, GC Porcelain participated as a major drafter in establishing two national standards for daily-use ceramics and honeycomb ceramics. The company’s high-end products, such as “Zunshang” enamel bone china and “White Peony” healthy lifestyle ceramics, have been well-received in the market, with domestic sales now accounting for 70% of total sales. This transformation not only marks GC Porcelain’ successful shift from single foreign trade exports to both domestic and international markets but also demonstrates its competitive advantage in high-tech fields. Consecutive honors as an Outstanding Enterprise in China’s Ceramic Industry, National Key Cultural Export Enterprise, and China Light Industry Top 100 Enterprise, along with its selection as a Jiangsu Province “Little Giant” specialized enterprise, all serve as the best proof of its relentless efforts.
Recently, despite multiple challenges including the pandemic’s impact, setbacks in the high-end gift ceramics market, rising foreign trade logistics costs, and energy price increases, GC Porcelain continues to actively seek new development paths. The company plans to optimize the structure of its four major bases: the daily-use ceramics production base in Gucheng Town, Gaochun District, the ceramic cultural creative industrial park in Gaochun Economic Development Zone, the daily-use ceramics production base in Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, and the ceramic wine vessel production base in Chengdu, Sichuan. In the future, the Gaochun base will focus on research and production of high value-added, high-tech products, the Shanxi base will serve as the main export base, and the Sichuan base will provide backup support for high-end bone china. Through such structural adjustment and optimization, the company hopes to better address various market challenges while maintaining its technological and cost advantages.
Moreover, GC Porcelain’ industrial tourism has gained significant attention. In the museum, visitors can admire a replica of the Song Dynasty “South China Sea No. 1” ancient ship loaded with famous kiln ceramics, as if entering a magnificent world of porcelain. This not only showcases GC Porcelain’ exquisite craftsmanship but also demonstrates its ambition to create a “new landmark of Chinese ceramics.” With accelerating industrial integration, “Industry + Tourism” has become a new growth point for GC Porcelain. Today, the GC Porcelain Museum has been recognized as a National Industrial Tourism Demonstration Site, and the National Ceramics Town has won the honor of Best Cultural Tourism Integration Town in the Yangtze River Delta.
GC Porcelain’ industrial cohesion will further strengthen, attracting more related enterprises to invest and develop, jointly creating an innovation highland for high-tech ceramics industry. This new form of tourism that integrates ceramic industry, cultural experience, and leisure tourism will not only promote the cultivation and development of the GC Porcelain brand but also bring new cultural experiences to visitors.
