Precious rocks

Liaoning province is known for being a kingdom of jade, agate and amber - and for good reason, Tiffany Tan finds.

It does not take long to realize that Xiuyan county's jade market is no ordinary jade market. Among the endless shelves of jade necklaces, bracelets, key chains and carvings sit these huge, mean-looking and expensive rocks. One, encased in glass, was purchased for 500,000 yuan in 1996 and left there on display. "What is it?" I ask my Chinese travel companion. "Jade," she says. "It's sold uncut? Why would anyone want that?" It soon emerged that, to many Chinese, these dark, rough chunks of stone represent rarity, wealth and beauty. It's been a year since stall owner Zhang Min has sold one of these boulders, a 2-meter tall, 1.5-meter wide piece that can fetch 300,000 yuan ($47,177). For a profit of 60,000 yuan on a single transaction, she says the wait is worthwhile.

"There is a demand," Zhang says. "You just have to wait for the right customer."