Lantian Jade

Written by Clementine | Updated December 19,2025

Jade culture is an important branch of traditional Chinese culture. What is jade? Ancient Chinese people call the beautiful stone as Jade. In ancient times, the most precious and valuable jewels in China were nothing about gold or diamond, they were all about jade. In Chinese people’s mind, top-grade jade is more valuable than gold. Today we’d like to share one of the four famous jades in China – Lantian Jade. It got the name because its birthplace is in Lantian County, Xian City. Lots of people may have heard about or have seen Lantian Jade during their Xian tour. But they actually have very limited knowledge about Lantian Jade. Follow us to learn about this beautiful jade.

What is Lantian Jade?

Geological Definition:

Lantian Jade is a branch of Marble serpentine. But it is not traditional tremolite jade, its main composition is calcite and some calcite are replaced by serpentine due to the hydrothermal process. Though its Mohs hardness is only 3 – 4 degrees, the texture is fine, so it is suitable for carvings, especially for making relatively “big” articles like stamps and desk/shelf ornaments. As early as in the primary society, people started to use jade to make artifacts.

Visual Characteristics:​

The most striking feature of Lantian Jade is its unique color and texture. Apple green, yellowish green or light beige are all typical colors. Overall, the jade presents a vitreous luster, with a semi transparent to slightly transparent texture. How to distinguish it from other jades? The uneven cloud-like white or off-white patterns with clear borders on the body is one of the main differences. Besides, Lantian Jade is smoother and has a low hardness.

The History of Lantian Jade

The Imperial Seal of Qin Shi Huang

When Emperor Qin Shihuang unified China, he made an official-use emperor stamp with Lantian Jade. Since that time, Lantian Jade has reached the peak of being the symbol of authority and power. In the later dynasties, who owned that Lantian Jade emperor stamp, he would be legal ruler of Chinese nation.

Han Dynasty Adornments

In the Han Dynasty, Xian was established as the capital. Due to the close distance between Lantian County and Xian and the large reserves, Lantian Jade became an important raw material for the jade wares and was widely used in rituals, decorations and funerals by the royal family. At that time, Lantian Jade was the materialized carrier of national rituals and noble status and was regarded as the royal jade.

The Tang Dynasty’s Golden Age

When it turned to Tang Dynasty, Lantian Jade welcomed its golden time. Its main function shifts to practicality, such as ornaments, accessories, utensils, etc. The craftsmanship also reached an extremely high level. It is said Emperor Xuanzong made a Qing – a Chinese style percussion instrument – for his beloved concubine Lady Yang. Lantian Jade has been the luxury for the nobility at that time.

Modern Rediscovery

In the later hundreds of years, Lantian Jade gradually lost its position as jewels material since it is increasingly difficult to find. Many people think Lantian Jade has disappeared in history, but in the 1970s, a new lode was rediscovered by and a modern mining and processing industry has been established since that time. Positioned as a medium-grade jade material, Lantian Jade is used to mass-produce the ornaments, bracelets, seals and all kinds of tourist souvenirs. Its relatively affordable price makes it a common choice for ordinary people. The profound culture and history have been its core value.

Top Places to Experience Lantian Jade in Xi’an

Shaanxi History Museum:

Shaanxi History Museum is the starting point to trace the historical position of Lantian Jade. The precious collections here are the most direct proofs of its supreme value in ancient China. The displayed ancient jade artifacts, such as jade belt boards and jade vessels, are basically unearthed from imperial tombs. The craftsmanship of these collections is extremely exquisite and the patterns show the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.

Huaqing Palace:

Huaqing Palace does not display the jades directly. But the real scenes here connect with the most glorious time of Lantian Jade in the Tang Dynasty. When wandering along the imperial palaces, gardens and pools, imagine the scene of the nobility wearing the jade jewelries and drinking wine with a jade cup in this prestigious imperial palace of the Tang Dynasty.

Lantian County Day Trip

If you have interest, a Xian side trip to Lantian will introduce you to local jade carvers and Lantian Jade culture. It takes about 1.5 hours from Xian, but it is the best place to know about its present. Pay a visit to the Jade Mountain Scenic Area to watch the geological structure of the serpentinized marble with your own eyes. Then step into a workshop to see how the craftsman designs, cuts and carves the jade according to its outlook. You can also learn from the shop owner about the methods to distinguish the authentic jades and counterfeits. If needed, we are glad to arrange such a tour for you.

How to Buy Authentic Jade

To buy an authentic jade during the Xian travel, it is known to every tourist that choosing a formal channel is a must. But meanwhile, you’d better know how to identify its quality.

• Look for the Luster: the real Lantian Jade is in typical vitreous luster to oily luster and is usually warm and soft, while the counterfeits are glass, resin or plastic imitations, which present a strong glass or waxy luster.
• Hardness Test: Real Lantian Jade is harder than glass, but do not test by yourself! Ask the merchants about the physical properties of their products directly.
• The “Ping” Sound: hold the jade gently with your finger or hang the jade with a string, and then tap gently with another jade or a metal stick. If a high-pitched, clear sound is produced, it indicates a solid, crack-free piece.
• Certification: ask for the certification issued by the authoritative testing institution recognized by the state. Check the mark of CMA, the name, weight, size, picture and the number on the certificate.
• Craftsmanship and design: observe whether the carved lines are smooth and natural, whether the details are clear and whether the design ingeniously utilizes the color and texture of the jade.

Travel with China Xian Tour for Your In-depth Xian Discovery

Besides the Lantian Jade, Xian becomes a hot tourist destination because of its profound history and culture. For every tourist who is interested in the city, China Xian Tour is glad to customize a trip based on your interests. As a local agency based in Xian, we will be your reliable choice. Our travel consultant can tailor a reasonable trip, book the hotels and tickets, and assign the guide and driver completely according to your demands. You can enjoy a carefree tour with us. Just contact us now.