To be honest, there’s an unwritten rule in this industry: “If you don’t know the trade, you’ll end up at a loss.” Shoushan stone may just be called “stone,” but the intricacies inside are actually even more complex than the jade from Ruili. I’ve been dealing with Ruili jade for over a decade and have some understanding of stones. Today, let me share with you about Shoushan stone—how the market has been recently and what you should keep in mind when buying.

Why can Shoushan stone prices vary so much?

If you ask me why Shoushan stone prices can differ so widely, I’ll tell you: this stuff ranges from tens of yuan to millions, and even tens of millions. What causes the difference? Simply put, it’s the material, craftsmanship, famous artists, and rarity. You need to fully grasp these four factors.


    • First, the material—this is fundamental. Shoushan stone has many varieties: Tianhuang, Furong, Gaoshan, Duchengkeng, and so on. Each type has its own inherent value. Take Tianhuang for example—it’s known as the “king of stones.” A good piece of Tianhuang commands sky-high prices. A few years ago, at a friend’s shop in Fuzhou, I saw a piece of about 30 grams of top-grade Tianhuang priced at over 800,000 yuan. It shocked me—I thought this stuff was even more precious than my jadeite. But then look at ordinary Gaoshan stone, which might cost only a few hundred yuan per piece; carving a small item for fun is quite nice too.

    • Next is craftsmanship. Craftsmanship directly reflects artistic value. A skilled carver can transform an ordinary stone into something magical. Look at works by master artists—their seals and sculptures are lifelike and full of profound meaning. Their pieces’ carving value can be several times higher than the material itself. Let me tell you a true story: when I first entered the trade, I saw a Furong stone whose material was worth only a few thousand yuan, but the carving of the figures was so vivid that the finished piece sold for nearly 100,000 yuan. That’s when I realized, in this business, skill really counts.

    • The famous artist effect is also powerful. If a piece is carved by a well-known master in the Shoushan stone world, its price shoots up quickly. It’s like buying a luxury brand bag—it’s not just a bag, but the brand premium. Shoushan stone is the same: works by famous artists are collectibles with greater appreciation potential. Of course, there are pitfalls—some so-called “disciples of famous artists” or “heirs” might just be scams, so be cautious.

    • Lastly, rarity. The principle of “scarcity adds value” applies everywhere. Some Shoushan stone mines have long been exhausted, such as old-pit Gaoshan stone or old-character Furong stone. These are mined piece by piece, so naturally their prices are high. Especially rare colors or unique textures are extremely hard to find, so their prices rise accordingly.

How’s the market recently? Some changes I’ve noticed

Honestly, the Shoushan stone market in recent years has had ups and downs, much like the Ruili jade market. A few years ago, when the economy was strong, Shoushan stone prices surged, especially for good Tianhuang and Furong stones—they were skyrocketing. Now, the overall market isn’t as hot, but quality pieces still hold firm prices and even see slight increases. However, ordinary materials and average craftsmanship items are harder to sell.

Last year at an exhibition in Fuzhou, I saw a roughly ten-gram “white Tian”—a pale-colored Tianhuang piece with very clean appearance, carved into a Maitreya Buddha. The asking price was over 200,000 yuan. Five years ago, this might have been worth 300,000 yuan or more. Interestingly, at the same event, those ordinary stone seals priced at a few hundred to a couple thousand yuan barely attracted any buyers, with transaction volumes clearly down. What does this mean? It means people now focus more on premium pieces, putting their money into truly valuable items.

Another trend is that online sales are picking up. Previously, everyone went to physical stores or source locations to find stones. Now many collectors buy through live streams or WeChat shops. Of course, online transactions carry risks—without seeing the item in person, the chance of getting a bad deal is higher. My own shop has an online presence, but for jade and stones, I usually don’t recommend buying sight unseen, and the same goes for Shoushan stone.

Which price range of Shoushan stone offers the best value?

If you ask me which price range of Shoushan stone offers the best cost-performance ratio, honestly, it’s hard to generalize. But if you’re a beginner or have a limited budget, my advice is to focus on the range from a few thousand to twenty or thirty thousand yuan.



    • For a few thousand yuan, you can find some nicely looking small Furong or Gaoshan stone pieces. For example, a 5-6 cm tall Furong stone seal blank with smooth texture and pure color, carved by a decent craftsman into a simple knob or light design, can be done for about two to six thousand yuan. These are great for personal enjoyment or gifts and have some collectible value. But if you expect it to appreciate many times over, that’s unrealistic.

    • Moving up to the 10,000 to 20,000 or 30,000 yuan range, you have the chance to buy some mid-to-high quality Furong, Gaoshan, or well-preserved Duchengkeng and Qijiang stones. At this price, if the carving is good, you might even encounter works by minor famous artists. One of my longtime clients spent 28,000 yuan last year on a very fine Qijiang stone seal with good craftsmanship. Looking at it now, it’s definitely a quality piece. Items in this range combine good material quality with artistic carving and have relatively better appreciation potential.

But if your budget is only a few hundred yuan, honestly, don’t expect to get any particularly good Shoushan stone. You might end up with low-quality material, machine carving, or even stones from other provinces passed off as Shoushan stone. I’ve fallen into this trap myself—when I first started, I bought a “Shoushan stone ornament” cheaply, only to find out later it was stone from another part of Fujian, not genuine Shoushan stone. I was so frustrated I almost stomped my feet.

Old Zhou’s honest advice: Don’t blindly chase high prices or cheap bargains!

Finally, if you’re planning to buy Shoushan stone soon, my advice is: look more and buy less, learn more, don’t blindly chase high prices, and don’t be greedy for cheap deals!

Shoushan stone is a deep subject. You need to understand its history and culture, know the characteristics of different stones, and learn to distinguish authenticity. Visit the Fuzhou source areas often and communicate with experienced collectors. The more you see and handle, the more you’ll develop a good sense.

Also, always choose trustworthy sellers. Be wary of roadside stalls or tourist spots. It’s best to buy from reputable old shops or those recommended by experts. When buying, inspect the material carefully, ask about the origin, and confirm if it’s a famous artist’s work. If the seller is vague or evasive, be cautious.

Shoushan stone is about elegance and enjoyment. Don’t always think about getting rich overnight by snatching bargains. Buy what you like, within your budget, and find a Shoushan stone that satisfies you—that’s what truly matters. Even if it’s not a rare treasure, as long as you love it, it’s priceless. That’s the truth!