Laiwu Literary Stone

Last updated 2026-11-08 — Laiwu Literary Stone originated in the mountainous regions of central Shandong, where rivers and hills crisscross and the terrain is complex. The unique geological features have created naturally formed rocks of diverse shapes. These stones are found across nearly all mountainous areas of Laiwu, mainly distributed in Hezhuang Township and Xiaoyi Beiling in the eastern part of Laiwu City, as well as the hilly areas along the southern bank of the Wen River. With a wide distribution and large reserves, these stones are currently under development. Laiwu stones come in many varieties—over thirty types have been discovered on the surface alone, collectively referred to as Laiwu Literary Stone. Their characteristics include translucency, perforations, slimness, wrinkled textures, and rugged beauty—all naturally formed in unique and ingenious shapes. Larger stones combine ruggedness with subtle elegance, while smaller ones are delicate and translucent, with clear and varied patterns. Among them are fine-textured limestone with distinct veins, malachite-like stones with magical structures and bright colors, hard and nearly transparent calcite; world-famous trilobite fossils with lifelike shapes, as well as uniquely patterned Laiwu colored stones, along with pebbles, sedimentary sandstone, cliff stone, ginger dog stone, water-absorbing stone, wooden fish stone, gallbladder stone, and more—resources are extremely abundant. The history of appreciating and collecting these stones in our city also dates back a long time, to the Ming Dynasty. According to research, a large ornamental rock in the Liu family garden of Xiaoyi Lou Village (now relocated to the north gate area inside Tai’an Dai Temple) was placed there by Liu Dongjiu, a former local official in Shanxi who returned to his hometown in the late Ming Dynasty. Another one, known as the Laiwu Stone (currently placed in the courtyard of the Laiwu District Committee), from the Yu family garden outside the east gate during that period, also dates back to the same era. Both of these ornamental rocks are locally sourced Taihu stones.