Where is China’s Natural Jade Located?

It is difficult for a westerner with no knowledge of Chinese language to follow the trails to sources of Chinese jade. Information on the internet varies greatly in credibility and is often confusing or contradictory.

Many sources say there is no jadeite in China, only nephrite jade. It seems most likely that jadeite is found but it is not of gem quality. 

On the other hand it is stated that good quality jadeite is found in Tibet, now claimed by China. You may also find it said that there is
no nephrite in China, a very debatable assertion perhaps based on the fact that a great deal of material called jade or jadeite turns out to be another stone – chrysoprase, diopside, jasper, marble, phrenite, quartzite, or serpentine, just to name a few.

But generally it is said that from antiquity up to the time of importation of jadeite, local nephrite was used in the best of Chinese carving. However, with the shifting boundaries over time, a historian’s view would be needed to verify whether those sources were within or without China of the time.

A significant problem is that “yu,” the term for jade, seems to have been generally applied to a variety of precious and semi-precious stones, making research difficult if based on early accounts. Another problem is that various sources use different spellings, apparently some modern, some older, some based on sounds. 

It appears that there were many locales where jade was found in ancient times, now mined out. Others say ancient nephrite also came from areas neighboring China, such as Korea, Taiwan, Siberia, and Southeast Asia, as all of these areas had jade-producing cultures. The argument is also put forward that in those ancient times, the primary source of jade in what is now Xinjiang province was not part of China but a bordering state. 

Probably the most famous jade is Hetian from the Kunlun and Altai mountains of the southern part of present day Xinjiang province, located in western China.  Hetian jade comes in many colors, the most valued being mutton fat white jade. Other shades of white as well as light green are found, as is so-called yellow jade, which may be jasper. 

The Tianshan area of Xinjiang is known for its deep green jade. The presence of the Manasi river provides another name, Manasi jade.

Quality Hetian jade is almost gone, inspiring the use of the name for the best jades from other places not only in China but internationally. While some expert commentators call this practice a sort of fakery (I have heard even more harsh assessments), it appears to be the accepted practice today.

Here is a modern view of Hetian from a China Daily interview with noted jade collector Wang Weixing: “Hetian jade is mined from many places, such as Canada and Korea. According to the national standard in China, all of this jade can be labeled as Hetian jade. It's a broad concept. But in terms of China's cultural traditions dating back thousands of years, Heitan only refers to the kind of jade in Xinjiang's Hetian region. Actually in Xinjiang, Hetian jade is not only found around the Kunlun Mountains. Other places, such as Manas in the northern part of Tianshan Mountains, also have Hetian jade -- most of which are jaspers made up of tremolite.”

Xiyaun jade comes from Liaoning province which borders North Korea. The usual forms are dark and lighter green. Pure white and golden yellow are also found though quite rare, according to the China Cultureweb site. 

Described as the largest jade Buddha statue in the world, the statue in the Jade Buddha Palace in Anshan is carved from a 574,900 lb jade boulder.

It is said Xiyaun jade is actually serpentine.

Lantian jade is produced in Lantian County, north of Xian in Shaanxi Province. It has been used in carving since ancient times.  It is found in blue, white, yellow and greens. Some say it is serpentine, not jade.

Nanyang jade, from Henan province. The ore district is located on an isolated 200 meter high hill, called Dushan Hill, giving it also the name “Dushan jade, and sometimes “Anyang jade,” for a nearby town. It is found in a variety of colors - green, white, yellow, purple, red and black. Sources say this so-called jade is actually sausserite.

Qilian Jade is found on snow-capped Qinlian Mountain nearby Jiuquan City of Gansu Province. Qilian Jade is a kind of dark green jade with black spots. Gansu is a very important archaeological area where ruins of early jade mines have been found. At least in terms of modern jade, it appears that some available “jade” there is serpentine.

 When the name of the jade is modified, say, for example, it is “Soochow jade,” it would be wise to do some research, as it may well be soapstone, serpentine, bowenite, steatite or some other “look-alike.” Another example is Calaite jade, found in colors blue and green. It is turquoise.

Or, in the case of “Peking jade,” the subject is often glass. 

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