Major Varieties Of Natural Raw Stones For Landscapes

China possesses abundant and diverse ornamental stone resources, encompassing various types such as sculptural stones, patterned stones, and mineral crystals. Among them, renowned traditional varieties-such as Lingbi stone, Taihu stone, Yuhua stone, and Kun stone-stand out due to their unique shapes, textures, patterns, or historical and cultural significance.

 

Lingbi stone originates from Lingbi County, Anhui Province, and ranks among China's "Four Great Ornamental Stones" (alongside Taihu, Kun, and Ying stones). Characterized by its hardness and predominantly ink-black color, it is particularly famous for producing a resonant, chime-like sound when struck. Du Wan of the Song Dynasty ranked it first in his *Yunlin Shipu* (Catalogue of Stones), and the Qianlong Emperor also praised it highly. Taihu stone is a prime example of sculptural stone.

 

Yuhua stone represents the category of patterned stones and is primarily found in the gravel layers of Nanjing and its surrounding areas. Renowned in the ornamental stone community, it is prized for its translucent, jade-like texture, magnificent colors, and ever-changing patterns. Appreciation of Yuhua stone focuses on six key elements: quality, color, shape, pattern, artistic conception, and aesthetic charm. Kun stone comes from Yufeng Mountain in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province; it has a mining history spanning over two thousand years and features distinctive forms, including varieties known as "Chicken-Bone Peak" and "Snowflake Peak."