Zheng Changlai (center) introduces donated Dehua porcelain pieces at a ceremony in the museum in Beijing.[Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

However, while once upon a time, the most popular exports were porcelain figures and utensils, these days Western craft porcelain fills the cargo holds of ships leaving China.

Whether it's the porcelain souvenirs sold at Universal Studios and the world's Disneyland theme parks, the best-selling ceramic cups in Starbucks, or small porcelain models found in European and American gardens－even seasonal porcelain for Christmas and Easter－most of them come from this one small county in southern China.

Zheng Pengfei, manager of Shunmei Ceramic Cultural Enterprise, one of the largest ceramic exporters in Dehua, says the company has earned international bargaining power through its exports. Its household porcelain products can now be found on the shelves of Walmart and other major international retailers.

He adds that Dehua porcelain needs to continue to impress the world, not only with its considerable production output, but also through its innovation and technique.