That makes porcelain more durable and more water resistant than ceramics, UNESCO notes (and Home Depot seconds!) As for why porcelain is more expensive than regular china, its because making porcelain truly is an art form.

Why is Chinese porcelain so valued in the Western world?

Chinese porcelain was highly prized in the West and in the Islamic World even after Europeans found out how to replicate it themselves in the 1700s. The artwork was exotic, the colors were bright and beautiful, the artistic pieces were durable and useful, and the pieces were comparatively inexpensive.