A few days ago, an old customer came to my shop for tea. He was holding a piece of Shoushan stone seal material, saying he had just bought it online. Excitedly, he asked me, "Old Zhou, take a look— is this Gaoshan stone or Furong stone?" I took it and had a look. Hey, the color of the material was indeed quite nice, but the translucency and feel were a bit off. It was obvious it wasn’t a good piece. I asked him how much he paid for it. He hesitated for a while and finally said around three to four thousand yuan. I laughed and said honestly, brother, you paid too much for this material, and the origin was probably misrepresented. His face fell a bit then, probably realizing he’d been scammed. This incident reminded me that many beginners are really confused about the origins of Shoushan stone. So today, let me break it down for everyone.

Where Does Shoushan Stone Come From?

Let me tell you, Shoushan stone mainly comes from the Shoushan Township north of Fuzhou, Fujian Province, specifically from a place called Shoushan Village. Don’t be fooled by the name “Shoushan” as if it’s just one mountain; actually, the area is huge, with hundreds of mines of various sizes. The Shoushan stone family has many members— reportedly over a hundred varieties divided into several major categories, such as Tiankeng stone, Shuikeng stone, and Shankeng stone. Under these three main categories, there are dozens or even hundreds of sub-varieties with poetic names like Furong stone, Gaoshan stone, Duling stone, Shanbodong, and Lichidong, which spark the imagination. But don’t be blinded by these fancy names; the key is to look at the material itself.

Tiankeng Stone: The “Noble” of Shoushan Stone

Among Shoushan stones, the most expensive is undoubtedly Tianhuang stone. This is truly a rare treasure. When I first started in the trade, an old expert told me, “One tael of Tianhuang is worth three taels of gold.” And now, it’s even more valuable than that. Tianhuang stone grows in paddy fields and is naturally polished and soaked by stream water over a long time, resulting in a warm, delicate texture that feels very different from other stones. The colors vary—yellow, red, black—but yellow is the most prized. Its distinctive features are “carrot patterns” and “red veins,” which are naturally formed and important for authenticating the stone. Don’t listen to those sellers who nonsense that Tianhuang stone can be found anywhere—that’s nonsense. The real Tianhuang mainly comes from the Xiban rice paddies in Shoushan Village, which have been almost exhausted. Most Tianhuang stones on the market today are old stock; new material is almost nonexistent. So if you see a Tianhuang stone claiming to be cheap, I tell you, it’s probably fake or some other stone pretending to be Tianhuang.

Shuikeng Stone: Crystal Clear and Lovely

Shuikeng stone is mined from rock crevices along the Shoushan streams. Because it is long soaked by underground water, its texture is generally crystal clear and translucent with good “water head” (translucency). Famous varieties include Frozen Stone, Crystal Frozen, and Fish Brain Frozen. These stones also feel great to the touch—cool and smooth. I remember about ten years ago, I attended a stone exhibition in Fuzhou and saw a piece of Crystal Frozen seal material with incredible translucency, like an ice block. The price was tens of thousands of yuan. I didn’t dare to buy it then, but now I regret it because the price has probably multiplied several times.

Shankeng Stone: A Large Family with Many Varieties

Shankeng stone is mined from the mountains in Shoushan Village. This category has the largest quantity and the most diverse varieties among Shoushan stones. Most Furong stone, Gaoshan stone, Duling stone, Shanbodong, and Lichidong belong to this group. Different origins mean different characteristics.



    • Furong Stone: Quite famous, with a warm texture and rich colors including white, red, and yellow Furong. Good Furong stones carve into especially beautiful pieces. I have a Furong stone Guanyin statue in my shop that customers love.

    • Gaoshan Stone: Also a big family with many sub-varieties like Gaoshan Crystal, Gaoshan Frozen, and Water Cave Gaoshan. Gaoshan stones are characterized by a relatively delicate texture, some are quite translucent, but still not as good as Shuikeng stones.

    • Duling Stone: This stone has a variety of colors—yellow, red, white—and some have interesting patterns.

    • Lichidong Stone: A precious variety in Shoushan stone because it contains crystal formations resembling lychee pulp, hence the name Lichidong. It is warm, delicate, glossy, and has bright colors. A friend of mine spent a lot of money a few years ago on a Lichidong seal and treasures it, playing with it every day.

Let me tell you, the origins of these Shankeng stones are actually the many mines scattered throughout Shoushan Village. If you go inside, it’s really a complex maze. Some old mines have long been abandoned, some still produce stones, but good material is becoming rarer. So when you look at Shoushan stone prices, besides texture, color, and carving, origin is also an important factor.

How Much Does Origin Affect Price?

If you ask me, the origin has a huge impact on the price of Shoushan stone. Origin represents rarity and expected quality.



    • The clearest example is Tianhuang stone, which is rare and has a fixed origin, so its price is sky-high.

    • Good Furong stones and Lichidong stones come from specific mines with excellent texture, so their prices rise accordingly.

    • Ordinary Shankeng stones with large output and average texture naturally have lower prices.


Last year, I saw a Gaoshan stone seal on the market with good color and decent carving, priced around three to four thousand yuan. Next to it was a Furong stone seal of similar size and carving, but because of different origin and warmer texture, its price shot straight up to ten thousand yuan. You see how much origin affects price? So don’t just look at the surface; ask about the origin and understand the “background” of the stone, then you’ll have a clear idea.

Origin Misconceptions in the Market—Don’t Fall into These Traps

Let me tell you, the shady parts of the market love to play tricks with origin. Here are some misconceptions you need to watch out for:



    • Confusing Origins: Some sellers sell ordinary Gaoshan stone as Furong stone or claim stones from other origins as Lichidong, inflating prices several times. Without a good eye, it’s easy to be fooled.

    • Exaggerating Origins: Some materials are indeed Shoushan stone but of average quality. Sellers claim they are “old pit material” or from “a certain cave,” making it sound impressive, but it’s just hype.

    • Passing Off Inferior Stones: Some stones from other provinces resemble Shoushan stone in texture and are passed off as Shoushan stone, let alone their origin. These are outright fraud.


So, when buying Shoushan stone, especially regarding origin, always be cautious. If unsure, don’t buy or find an expert to help you inspect. Don’t just trust the seller’s word; you might fall into a trap.

In short, the origin of Shoushan stone is its ID card for quality and value. Understanding origin isn’t about memorizing complicated mine names but realizing that good Shoushan stones usually come from specific, rare origins, and stones from these origins generally have superior texture and higher collectible value. Don’t overthink it—just remember one thing: look at the material, ask clearly about the origin, and if unsure, look more, compare more, ask more, and don’t rush to buy!