Alxa Strange Stones Street

Alxa Strange Stones Street

Praise for Alxa Strange Stones by Zhang Xiongzhì: "Through cosmic ages, the spirit's charm condenses; by nature’s making, the soul of stones is cast." The place where the Shenzhou spacecraft ascends—China’s hidden gem, Alxa—boasts many wonders, but none more unique than its strange stones. Here lie vast deserts and boundless Gobi plains. There is a great “sea,” formed by the convergence of the Badain Jaran, Tengger, and Ulan Buh deserts along with the Gobi expanses between them... This land was indeed once a true ocean, the homeland of the sea. Geological and archaeological studies confirm that Alxa was once an immense body of water. From the late Proterozoic era over 1 billion years ago to the Mesozoic Triassic period two to three hundred million years ago, intense crustal movements, submarine volcanic eruptions, repeated land submersions, and turbulent skies... The unique geological structure and hundreds of millions of years of geological transformation have made the Alxa wilderness a colossal stone-processing factory. Under the combined internal and external forces of crustal movements, volcanic lava flows, weathering, sand abrasion, and the heat of day and cold of night, the distinctive Alxa strange stones were ultimately formed. Geological surveys indicate that dozens of types of Alxa strange stones have been discovered to date. The main varieties include: Agate stones, which are gem-grade ornamental rocks—hard as corundum, colorful as rosy clouds, smooth as crystal, dazzling as pearls, and star-like in appearance. Countless varieties exist: hibiscus agate, chicken-blood agate, egg-yolk agate, ribbon agate, tortoiseshell agate, amethyst agate, and many more. Among them, grape agate is hailed as the king of rare stones, with cascading beads and jade-like clusters resembling plump, glistening grapes—so enchanting they are hard to pick and leave one in awe. To this day, on Earth, which is 4.6 billion years old, grape agate has only been found in Alxa, earning it the well-deserved title of “rare treasure.” Turquoise stones are revered as the “queen of colored stones.” Trace metal compounds infused during their formation lend them vibrant hues: red turquoise blazing like the sun, black turquoise sinking like the moon, green turquoise heralding spring, yellow turquoise bidding farewell to autumn... The splendor of multicolored turquoise is beyond description. Desert varnish stones feature deep, rich colors, forming a “lacquer-like film” that is noble, luxurious, tough, and beautiful, resembling exquisitely crafted lacquerware refined through countless processes, as if blended with icy snow and scorching fire, infused with morning dew and evening frost. Layered wind-eroded stones vary in form with distinct stratification; even the fierce winds of the desert can interpret the Jiangnan aesthetic of leanness, translucency, openness, and wrinkled texture. “Desert rose” stones, actually crystalline mineral aggregates of gypsum and sand grains, display radiant crystal faces and clusters in full bloom, endearing them to all—"like a mute person speaking or flowers blooming from stone!" Chalcedony stones—twisted and uneven, rich in abstract meaning. Aggregate stones—angular and stark, ethereal and refined. Pyrophyllite stones—smooth as congealed fat, bright and lustrous. Amethyst stones—delicately hued, flawless, and sparkling. Petrified wood—mysterious and natural, bearing the marks of time. ... “Silent until it speaks, then it startles the world!” Alxa strange stones take the lead, rapidly influencing Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia, gaining popularity in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and reaching as far as Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas. They have become renowned Chinese stones, earning praise and admiration from stone-appreciation and collecting circles both at home and abroad. The greatest characteristics of Alxa strange stones are their “Five Wonders”: **Form Wonder** – They “clone” myriad phenomena of the world, astonishingly miraculous and uniquely natural, fully showcasing the wonder of nature’s creation. Take, for example, the “Elder of Time,” a Gobi agate discovered on the northern Gobi of Alxa. This three-colored agate forms the head of an elderly woman—with black-brown hair, flesh-toned face, and black facial features. Weathered yet kind, it resembles a modern elderly woman, except it has endured over 200 million years. **Quality Wonder** – Having endured the harsh natural conditions of the desert and Gobi, only the most refined and exceptional stones remain. Hence the saying, “A thousand kinds of agate, ten thousand kinds of jade.” **Color Wonder** – Their colors seem to draw from all the hues and glosses of nature. Firstly, the inherent natural tones formed during the stones’ creation are rich yet subdued, weighty and profound. Secondly, erosion by wind and rain, and staining by frost and heat, splash color onto the stones, as if dyed by the heavens themselves. **Rarity Wonder** – Rareness makes them precious. Hard to come by and impossible to recreate, it’s common to find desert stones valued at hundreds of thousands of yuan. One agate stone named “Chick Breaking Out of the Shell” has been appraised by experts at 130 million yuan, setting a record in the stone world. **Magic Wonder** – The vastness of the desert, the openness of the Gobi, the harshness of the environment... all contribute to the unique charm of Alxa strange stones. Unadorned, they reveal a return to simplicity, harmony between heaven and humanity, and a profound unity between humans and nature. Bold and weighty, elegant yet accessible, they embody the unity of matter and spirit, the resilience forged through tribulation, the serenity in the face of fate, and the transcendent ease of nonchalance. Their broad artistic conception and deep symbolism captivate the viewer, stir the soul, and entrance the mind—dreamlike, fantastical, and infinitely charming. As the nation prospers, so too does the spirit of things shine. Alxa strange stones form bonds of affection, connecting with insightful individuals from all walks of life; Alxa strange stones build bridges, stepping onto stages at home and abroad; Alxa strange stones open windows, showcasing the new image of Alxa to the world.