Crystals are one of the proven mineral resources of Donghai County, which spans an area of 2248 square kilometers and harbors 37 types of minerals, including 29 non-metallic minerals. Among these, quartz minerals are abundant, with reserves exceeding 300 million tons, accounting for 80% of the national output, and are of the highest quality both nationally and globally. Today, Donghai has developed into the crystal capital of China and a global hub for crystals. Donghai and its crystals hold several records in the crystal industry.
Ancient Crystal Site in Daxianzhuang, Donghai
Daxianzhuang, where I was born, is home to one of China's oldest crystal sites. As a child, I often heard about people searching for crystal tools near the reservoir west of the village. We frequently encountered various sizes of stones while herding cattle and farming in the mountains. Many of these stones, later seen in the local museum labeled as stone hammers and knives, are remnants of tools left by our ancestors.
Research by archaeologists has revealed that Donghai's crystal stones are clear, faceted, angular, hard, and beautiful, making them among the first stones discovered and utilized by humans. Over 10,000 years ago, ancient humans in the Daxianzhuang area of Donghai used local quartz and crystal to create numerous stone tools. These have been identified as relics from the Paleolithic era by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing.
Largest Individual Crystals in China
Donghai boasts the largest individual crystals among the tens of thousands of tons excavated nationally. In 1958, a 4.35-ton crystal was unearthed in Donghai and is now housed in the Beijing Geological Museum, representing China's largest crystal specimen. In 1982, a 2.1-ton crystal named "The Second Crystal King" was discovered in Toufeng Township, Donghai. On January 25, 1995, another large crystal weighing 1.99 tons, known as "The Third Crystal King" of Donghai, was excavated in Caolin Village and placed in the Donghai Crystal Museum.
Largest Crystal Reserves in China
Local folklore in Donghai suggests that the land is rich in crystal resources. Crystals are often found during construction and water conservancy projects, indicating the abundance of crystals in the area. Geological surveys confirm the extensive presence of crystal outcrops throughout Donghai, particularly in the central and southern regions covering approximately 250 square kilometers. It is estimated that there are about 300,000 tons of crystals buried below 30 meters in Donghai.
Highest Crystal Production in China
Between 1986 and 1989, China produced 3001.2 tons of crystals, with Donghai County contributing 2148.3 tons, approximately 71.58% of the national output. This makes Donghai the leading region in crystal production in China.
Best Quality Crystals in China
The quality of crystals is primarily judged by the content of silicon dioxide (SiO2); higher SiO2 content indicates better quality. Analysis shows that Donghai crystals contain over 99.99% SiO2 and less than 22.57% ppm of total impurities, making them the best in quality. In 1976, following the death of Chairman Mao Zedong, Donghai County contributed 32.2 tons of high-quality crystals for the construction of his crystal coffin.
Largest Crystal Trading Hub in the World
Donghai is renowned as the largest crystal trading hub globally, with the local crystal industry developing a comprehensive network system over the years. Donghai's people are involved in crystal trading all over China, making the county a center for crystal distribution both nationally and internationally. Donghai has about 300,000 people engaged in crystal mining, processing, and sales, with over 3000 people involved in international crystal trading. Donghai's impact in the global crystal market is significant, attracting international buyers, especially from Japan and South Korea.
Most Professional Crystal Museum in China
The Donghai Crystal Museum is the largest and most professional crystal-themed museum in China, located near the beautiful Xishuang Lake. Opened on September 28, 2013, it has welcomed nearly 1.6 million visitors from home and abroad by the end of 2016. In January 2015, the museum was honored as "China's Crystal Museum" by the China Arts and Crafts Association and became a branch of the China Geological Museum in July of the same year.
Largest Crystal City in the World
Donghai Crystal City, the world's largest crystal city, was initially built in 1992 and expanded to cover over30,000 square meters with a built-up area of about 50,000 square meters. It houses over 3,000 stalls, with annual transactions exceeding 2 billion yuan. On February 2, 2016, the new Donghai Crystal City began operations. This expanded facility includes underground and four above-ground levels, accommodating over 8,000 crystal merchants. By the end of 2016, the new Crystal City had attracted a significant number of merchants and saw a daily visitor flow of 30,000 people, with transaction volumes reaching 10 billion yuan in 2016 alone.
Donghai: Home to Numerous Crystal Talents
Thanks to years of cultivation and attractive policies by the Donghai County government, the region has nurtured a large number of local crystal carving masters and established a comprehensive talent training system for the crystal industry. Donghai has become a hub for crystal artistry, attracting crystal carving masters from all over China to settle and create here, significantly contributing to the development of the crystal industry.
In 2016, Donghai was recognized as the "World Crystal Capital," highlighting its global significance in the crystal industry. This area not only dominates in terms of quantity and quality of crystal production but also plays a crucial role in the global crystal trade and craftsmanship. Donghai County's dedication to crystal mining, processing, trading, and artistry has made it an unparalleled leader in the crystal world.
