The Shanghai Hu Tai Road Stone Market and The Shanghai Viewing Stone Association
Introduction to the Hu Tai Road Stone Market in Shanghai and the Shanghai Viewing Stone Association
By Thomas S. Elias, October, 2023
Would you like to learn more about the vast suite of Chinese stones and buy a nice Scholar Stone but cannot afford the time or money to travel throughout China to accomplish your goals? The best and most efficient way to accomplish this is to visit the Flower, Bird, and Stone Market located at 1012 Hu Tai Road in Shanghai. Shanghai is convenient to reach from any country because this major city is accustomed to receiving thousands of foreign visitors each year, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic years.
The entrance to this market is modest, but after you pass along the small street that leads to the heart of the 40,000 square meter market you’ll find approximately 300 shops that range from small roadside shops to large one- and two-story businesses offering some of the highest quality stones throughout China. Some stores offer scrolls, stone paintings, display tables, and various accessories. Visitors can purchase small stones that can be held in their hand as well as large landscape stones weighing several tons.
Examples of larger stones for sale in the Hu Tai Lo Stone Market.
Among the outstanding stone shops, I recommend that you visit the Shanghai Shishihong Art Gallery, owned and operated by the International known artist and master wood carver Chen Shihong (see the July 2019 feature article,
Shanghai Contemporary Bases for Viewing Stone on
www.vsana.org website). Chen has a shop that carves traditional or contemporary bases designed by him. He specializes in creating unique bases by studying the stone and developing a base that best complements the stone. Chen has designed and made bases for several of the finest Chinese stones in our collection.
Chen Shihong and his Shanghai Shioshihong Art Gallery
The Shanghai Guanshangshi Association (Shanghai Viewing Stone Association) is located near the Shishihong Art Gallery. Be certain to visit the gallery on the second floor to see the current exhibition. The Shanghai Viewing Stone Association, established in 1995, is located within this market. They are fortunate to have large display areas to stage first-class exhibitions of stones. This association is one of the leading associations in China and is known for staging outstanding exhibits year after year. It hosts two major and several small-scale stone exhibitions with specific themes. The association aims to unite all stone units with those interested in stone appreciation and Chinese stone culture, increase people’s aesthetic intelligence, and promote the collection, appreciation, display, and research about stones.
Shanghai Viewing Stone Association Headquarters
The current leader of the association is Du Hai Lo, a scholar and stone connoisseur of Tradition Chinese Scholar’s rocks. We enjoyed spending time with Du Hai Lo several years ago, where we discussed different aspects of stone appreciation in China. His knowledge of Chinese stones is immense, and we are grateful that he shared some of that knowledge with us.
Du Hai Lo and his personal collection of stones and stone art.
