Sihong Petrified Wood Museum

Sihong Petrified Wood Museum

The Sihong Petrified Wood Museum is also known as "Xiao Xiao Zhai." The collection at "Xiao Xiao Zhai" is extensive, mainly featuring petrified wood found locally in Sihong. Petrified wood, also called silicified wood or stone tree, retains certain characteristics of ancient trees and provides clues for the study of ancient plants, paleontology, geology, and climate change.

The name "Xiao Xiao Zhai" is taken from Zheng Banqiao’s poem: “Though we are but petty officials of a county or prefecture, every leaf and twig matters to us.” "Xiao Xiao Zhai" is located within Qi Zhuang’s Thousand-Mu Orchard in Qingyang Town, Sihong County. Its collection is abundant, with Sihong petrified wood taking the spotlight. The museum showcases several major categories including hall stones, desk stones, landscape potted scenes, and fossil crafts. It currently houses over a hundred fine-quality stones such as Lingbi Stone, Red Wan Screw, and White Lingbi, among which premium Lingbi Stones like “Guan Yu Patrolling the City,” “Lotus Pond Whispers,” “Funiu Ridge,” and “Graceful Jade Tree” enjoy widespread renown.

With a rich collection, "Xiao Xiao Zhai" has also gained considerable fame. Mr. Yan Zhentang, President of the China Collectors Association and former Deputy Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, personally inscribed the name of the studio. The renowned collector and calligrapher Mr. Zhang Ping inscribed “Sihong Petrified Wood Museum,” and many other collectors and artists contributed calligraphy and paintings in celebration.

Sihong is one of the regions in China with large underground reserves of petrified wood, especially around the Greater and Lesser Hongshan Mountains in Fengshan Township. Due to long-term farming and water conservancy projects, petrified wood has continuously been unearthed and scattered among the public. To better protect these petrified wood resources, local residents in Sihong spontaneously raised funds to establish the Petrified Wood Museum.