Tortoise-patterned stone carvings and Tujia root carvings

Tortoise-patterned stone carvings and Tujia root carvings

　　    A unique handicraft specialty found nowhere else in the country. This stone is produced exclusively on Tianzi Mountain in Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie City, and is a natural wonder formed over two hundred million years ago. The stone features patterns resembling tortoise shells, hence its name. Most are carved into the shape of turtles and can be made into stone inkstones. Deeply loved by tourists. Crafted from oddly shaped tree roots, stumps, and trunks found deep in the mountains and forests, these root carvings are artistically processed to capture an aesthetic that lies between resemblance and abstraction. They are cherished as collectible gifts among literati and refined individuals. (Zhangjiajie)