Hangzhou, May 15, 2026 – The highly anticipated Xiling Yinshe 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the “Jade and Gold Sound – Chinese Hetian Jade Masterpieces Special Sale” performing exceptionally well. Transaction data reached new highs, demonstrating the strong growth momentum of the high-end Hetian jade market.
This Hetian jade special sale featured a total of 128 exquisite lots, covering various categories such as rough籽料 (seed jade), carved pieces, and vessels. Ultimately, the total transaction value reached RMB 185 million, with a high transaction rate of 92.3%, an increase of 23.3% compared to the RMB 150 million total transaction value of the Hetian jade special sale in the same period last year. Among them, 12 lots were sold for over RMB 10 million, and 45 lots, accounting for 35.1% of the total, were sold for over RMB 1 million.
Regarding the highlight lots, a “Xinjiang Hetian Jade Seed Material · Auspicious Beast Handle Piece” weighing 285 grams was hammered for an astonishing RMB 32 million, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate of RMB 20 million, becoming the “top lot” of this auction. The jade piece boasts fine and lustrous texture, excellent whiteness, and exquisite carving, with the auspicious beast vividly rendered, fully embodying the rarity and artistic value of top-grade seed jade. Another piece, a “Mid-Qing Dynasty · White Jade Carved Lid Censer with Intertwined Lotus Patterns,” sold for RMB 18.5 million, with its warm jade quality and intricate craftsmanship earning high recognition from collectors. In addition, a “Contemporary · Yang Genlian-made Biyu Carved Landscape and Figure Ornament” also fetched a high price of RMB 12 million, demonstrating the market influence of contemporary jade carving masters' works.
Mr. Lu, General Manager of Xiling Yinshe Auction Co., Ltd., stated in an interview: “The success of this Hetian jade special sale once again confirms the market's continued pursuit of high-quality Hetian jade. We have observed that collectors are increasingly demanding in terms of the origin, whiteness, luster, and carving craftsmanship of jade, especially Xinjiang Hetian seed jade, whose scarcity determines its irreplaceable investment value. At the same time, masterpieces by renowned masters are also increasingly favored by the market.”
Professor Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “Judging from the data of this Xiling Spring Auction, the Hetian jade market shows a polarized trend. On the one hand, the prices of top-grade seed jade and master-carved pieces continue to be strong, even reaching new highs, reflecting the strong purchasing power of high-end collectors for scarce resources. On the other hand, the prices of ordinary quality Hetian jade, especially mountain jade and Russian jade, are relatively stable, or even slightly adjusted. This indicates that the market is returning to rationality, and collectors are paying more attention to the quality and artistic value of jade rather than blindly following trends. It is expected that in the next few years, the Hetian jade market will continue to develop towards refinement and artistry, and the investment threshold will also further increase.”
Several industry insiders also stated that with the steady development of the domestic economy and the enhancement of cultural confidence, jade collection, as an asset allocation method with both cultural attributes and investment value, will attract the attention of more high-net-worth individuals. However, they also reminded collectors that when investing in Hetian jade, it is essential to improve their discernment skills, choose reputable auction houses and channels, and avoid blind investment.
The outstanding performance of the Hetian jade special sale at this Xiling Yinshe Spring Auction undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the entire jade market, indicating that the high-end Hetian jade collection market will remain active in the future, and the value of masterpieces will continue to stand out.