Manas Hetian Jade

Manas Hetian Jade

Manas Hetian Jade is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Manas Hetian Jade is a specialty of Manas County in Changji, Xinjiang.

　　Mined from the depths of the Tianshan Mountains around Manas County in northern Xinjiang, this jade has a long extraction history and is one of the varieties that were among the earliest to be developed and utilized in China. It is classified as mid-range jade.

　　Manas Hetian Jade boasts bright colors, a fine texture, and excellent luster, with quality on par with that of Kunlun Jade and Hetian Jade. The Manas jade mines were originally owned by the imperial family of the Northern Song Dynasty, and later, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty decreed them as exclusive to the imperial court.

　　The characteristics of Manas Hetian Jade are as follows: its color is mainly spinach green, mixed with white speckles and streaks, along with black dots. Those appearing in gray-green, dark green, or blackish green, with black spots, dots, or blemishes, are of slightly lower quality. The jade contains over 90% tremolite, with a fine texture, semi-transparency, and a greasy luster, placing it in the mid-tier category. Varieties with uneven tones and gray or black spots are considered less premium, while those with pure ink-green hues are of the highest quality. Manas Hetian Jade has a deep, solemn color tone, making it suitable for carving large landscape ornaments or solid, classic vessels. Many outstanding pieces of Manas Hetian Jade can be found among the jade collections in the Forbidden City.

　　Manas Hetian Jade

　　 Area within Manas County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, between 43°34′ to 43°42′ north latitude and 85°43′ to 86°04′ east longitude

　　 "Letter from the People’s Government of Manas County on the Proposal to Define the Protected Origin Range of Manas Hetian Jade Geographical Indication Products," Manas Government Document [2013] No. 29

　　 Local standard of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: DB65/T3420-2012 "Manas Hetian Jade"