[Photo provided to China Daily]

But, archaeologists have discovered items in the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. In a related development, in 2016, the Shanglinhu kilns were nominated as a potential UNESCO World Heritage site.

Describing mise porcelain from the Yue Kiln, Jessica Rawson, a professor of Chinese art and archaeology at Oxford University, who visited the exhibition, says: "It has many qualities of jade, with beautiful surfaces and subtle colors."

She also says that it played an important role in daily use in spite of its high value, adding: "I don't think it would be fully understood in Europe, because most Europeans bought garish porcelain－white and red.

"Chinese tastes were different from Europe."

If you go

8:30 am-5 pm, through July 2, closed on Mondays; 4 Jingshan Qianjie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. The exhibition is at Palace Museum's Hall of Abstinence (Zhai Gong) in the eastern wing of the museum. No extra charge.