China, third-rate location for alpines (8)

I believe the answer is:

crockery

'china' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'third-rate location for alpines' is the wordplay.
'third-rate' becomes 'c'.
'location for alpines' becomes 'rockery'.
'c'+'rockery'='CROCKERY'

(Other definitions for crockery that I've seen before include "Collection of pots" , "bowls" , "Chinaware" , "Dishware" , "Earthenware vessels" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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