Jade wares are normally called “Jade carvings”, a form of craftsmanship that enjoys a long history. Jade wares feature fine craftsmanship, and solemn, magnificent manner. Most jade wares come in large sizes and are used for decoration. Jade carvings with the theme of persons, mountains, utensils, and flowers bear unique touch. Quality materials are chosen to carve into different shapes and themes while allowing for features of the materials themselves. The agate ware which subtly retains the original color of it is the most representative. A wide range of jade materials are used to shape jade wares revealing a rich variety of themes. Jade wares betray palace art features and imperial manner.

※Where to see?

National Museum of China

Located east of Tian'anmen Square, opposite the Great Hall of People, the National Museum of China is one of the most popular museum in the world. Attached to the Ministry of Culture of Peoples Republic of China, it is a comprehensive museum gathering multiple functions including collection, exhibition, study, archaeology, public education and culture communication. Covering an area of 200,000 square meters, it is the largest museum based on a single building in the world. It is mainly consisted of 48 exhibition halls displaying over 1 million collections. Hence, it is also the museum with the largest collection in China which attracts more than 7 million visitors every year.

The museum features a regular exhibition themed Ancient Chinese Jades. More than 80,000 ancient Chinese jades previously in the repository of the Chinese Cultural Heritage Information Centre became part of the National Museum of China collection. The finest jade objects dating from Neolithic times to the Qing Dynasty is on show together with pieces from the museum’s original collection that have seldom been on public view.

Address: East side of Tian’anmen Square,16 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing

※Where to buy?

Panjiayuan Antique Market

Covering an area of 48,500 square meters, Panjiayuan Antique Market is located in the southwest of Panjiayuan Bridge on East 3rd Ring Road South in Beijing. It is divided into six sectors, namely, the temporary stall sector, the ancient architecture sector, the antique furniture sector, the modern collectable sector, the stone carving and sculpture sector and the catering and service sector. The market attracts many visitors with curios, vintage Chinese calligraphy and paintings, agate, Buddhist prayer beads, kallaite, bodhi seeds, jade and ceramic, all of which are claimed to be “antiques”. Genuine or not, just find your favorite and take it away with you.

Address: East 3rd Ring Road South, Chaoyang District (southwest of Panjiayuan Bridge)