November 3-17, 2026
$5880 USD for 15 days
and 16 nights
2026 Jingdezhen Global Pottery Bootcamp
YAYA Ceramics x ZhanShao Ceramics Practice Base
In 2024, I traveled to Jingdezhen, China, to learn porcelain techniques at Master Zhan Shaolin's pottery school.
I documented my journey on my Youtube channel, where it was met with an outpouring of support and enthusiasm. Many expressed interest in traveling to Jingdezhen to study at the school themselves.
So, I collaborated with Master Zhan to launch a Global Pottery Bootcamp with English translation to make traditional Chinese ceramic education more accessible to students around the world. In 2025, we successfully hosted the first Global Pottery Bootcamp with 11 students from 10 countries.
We are excited to announce that the 2026 Global Pottery Bootcamp is now open for enrollment.
The 2026 Jingdezhen Global Pottery Bootcamp will last fifteen days and will take place from November 3 to 17, 2026, at ZhanShao Ceramics Practice Base.
The program combines immersive pottery training with cultural experiences, making it an all-inclusive travel and learning adventure.
The 2026 Jingdezhen Global Pottery Bootcamp includes 12 Masterclasses in various porcelain techniques and disciplines, with an overarching focus on wheel-throwing.
Live English translation by interpreters with specialized knowledge in ceramics will be provided for all instruction. The course is open to English-speaking students of all pottery skill levels aged 16 and above.
Master Zhan will conduct regular throwing Masterclasses throughout the Bootcamp. Daily throwing lessons and hands-on support during practice time will be provided by Master Zhan’s senior apprentices.
Throughout the program, 11 other Guest Masters will teach lessons in:
Qinghua
Sculpting
Carving
Trimming
Glazing
Wood-firing
Teapot Attaching
Porcelain Flower Sculpting
Antiques Appraisal
Overglaze
Porcelain Repair
Beyond the classroom, the Bootcamp emphasizes community and cultural immersion.
Shared meals, group outings, and visits to historically and environmentally significant destinations allow participants to bond, unwind, and experience China together, making the program as enriching socially and culturally as it is educationally.
Our itinerary includes field trips to:
A local Master artisan’s studio and ceramics fabrication factory,
The Jingdezhen China Ceramics Museum,
The Imperial Kiln Factory Park,
Master Zhan’s residence in the countryside for wood-fired kiln firing and opening ceremonies,
AND a 1-Day Scenic Trip to Sanqing Mountain in Jiangxi Province, renowned for its breathtaking scenery and unique geological formations.
The Bootcamp also provides ample time for independent throwing practice, both during and after normal school hours, allowing participants to refine their skills at their own pace.
Students will take home 3-5 pieces from the Masterclasses, and will have the opportunity to fire additional pieces that they create during practice time if they desire.
Tuition covers accommodations (private room and ensuite bathroom), daily breakfast and lunch, and group dinners.
Accommodations begin the night before the first day of class, and include the night of the final day, ending the morning after. Each student will be assigned their own room and bathroom.
Breakfast and lunch are included.
Dinner is provided on days when scheduled activities limit time for dining independently, as well as on evenings with special banquets or off-site excursions. On free evenings, there are plentiful restaurants options in the area for dinner.
Example of participant room in 2025. accommodations in 2026 may differ.
Nestled in the mountains of Jiangxi Province, Jingdezhen, known as the “Porcelain Capital of the World”, has shaped the global history of ceramics for over a millennia.
Jingdezhen’s mountains harbor some of the finest kaolin-rich clay, a requirement for porcelain that fires to 1300 degrees Celsius and transforms into a bright white.
It is said that the traditional pottery-making process in Jingdezhen is divided into 72 distinct steps. artisans work together in a finely-tuned ecosystem to produce a wide range of finished ceramic products, from thin, translucent eggshell wares to giant vessels.
Today, Jingdezhen remains a living, breathing center of ceramic excellence, where local artisans continuously innovate upon traditional techniques, and pottery enthusiasts from all over the world come to learn and refine their craft.
He has trained within Jingdezhen’s traditional apprenticeship system, honing a technical and artistic discipline that has earned him recognition as one of the most respected throwers of not only his generation, but an entire lineage of potters.Over the years, Zhan has trained over 150 apprentices, continuing the legacy of Jingdezhen craftsmanship. A national-level inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, he is known for developing the five-step method for throwing off the hump. His work has been featured in exhibitions such as the National Art Museum in Beijing, and is permanently displayed in collections such as the World Skills Museum in Shanghai.
Zhan Shaolin is a Master Thrower with over 30 years of experience in porcelain wheel-throwing.
Download the full 2026 Jingdezhen Global Pottery Bootcamp information packet for complete details on tuition, itinerary, and inclusions:
and when you're ready...
Register for Bootcamp
ONLY 3 SPOTS REMAINING
A deposit of 50% of your tuition will be required to enroll and secure your spot.Relive the 2025 Jingdezhen Global Pottery Bootcamp
part 1
part 2
Please note that new activities included in the 2026 program are not shown in these videos.