This museum is devoted to the display of Gobi Desert stones collected by the accomplished artist Mr. Wei Jinxue in the Bayannaoer and Alashan Leagues in the Gobi Desert. The compound in which this museum is located is also the home of Wei and his wife. The extensive collection of stones, mounted in hand-carved bases, is housed in four buildings surrounding a small courtyard. There are no display signs or interpretative materials typically found in a public museum. Despite that, it is a great place to see the diversity of stones from this region of the Gobi Desert. Hundreds of stones are on display. There are many pieces of chalcedony present - stones rich in silica dioxide. We are saw some flower-like quartz formations in a few of the stones.

Typical of most private museums, many of the stones are for sale. Since this is a privately owned museum, it is best to call ahead and arrange an appointment before making the hour-long drive from downtown Beijing. Yes, it is located outside the city and is not easy to find without local assistance.

The complex comprising this museum consist of a series of Ming and Qing dynasty style buildings set among a series of open courtyards. It is a large and impressive facility with over 3,000 rare stones and fossils from all regions of China. Virtually all of the stones and fossils on display are Chinese; thus, it is highly recommended to collectors who wish to see the wide range of stones that can be can be found in this vast country. Most of the stones are displayed behind glass and the lighting is adequate but not conducive to quality photography. The larger stones displayed in the courtyards are impressive as are a number of large tray and tree penjing. A small gift shop sells stone related items along with some tourist quality stones. 

Hongshan Area, Wuhan. This university museum is a great place to learn about the origin and evolution of the earth and especially about the geology of China. Ten exhibit rooms organized by subject matter display some of their 30,000 specimens. The prehistoric fossils along with the mineral, gem, and rock specimens are superb. We were impressed with the quality of the displays, and amazed at the specimens. Spending time in this museum will help stone collectors better understand their rocks and their geological relationship to other rocks.

The museum is a single large building on the grounds of the university.

Extraordinary large stones and fossil trees can be found on the university grounds.

This fascinating historical site on the edge of Daye, a mining city about 90 km southeast from Wuhan, is important in the history of Chinese stone appreciation because it is a major site for the malachite that has been used as viewing stones in China. It is a 20-acre site with paths, informational signs, and a museum to help visitors understand all aspects of the operation of this mine from its earliest days 2,700 years ago and through the following dynasties. If you are interested in copper mining or malachite, this is a worthwhile day trip from Wuhan.

A moderate-sized, one-story museum devoted solely to Rain Flower stones is located in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province. It is an attractive museum located in a park and provides visitors with a comprehensive treatment of these beautiful small stones since ancient times. The current museum was built in 2007 and replaced an older facility first constructed in 1989. The stones are displayed in white bowls set along the walls. Numerous panels containing photographs and information about these stones are located throughout the museum. Hundreds of stones of the various types and categories are displayed. A gift shop selling various items including some Rain Flower stones is located next to the exit of the museum. If your interest includes these stones, then the museum is a must. A visit to this museum can be combined with a day car trip to nearby Luhe to visit several stone shops also devoted solely to Rain Flower stones and jewelry made from these stones.

The world famous Lingering Garden in Suzhou is an excellent place to see several outstanding examples of Taihu landscape stones. The most famous of these are the Auspicious Cloud Capped Peak, probably the most photographed Taihu stone in the world. This is considered to be one of the finest classical Chinese garden in China. It is divided into four sections. The garden has experienced several iterations during it long history. First begun in 1593 and later modified, repaired and reconstructed several times. In 1873 or soon afterwards that many of the excellent large Taihu stones were added. The garden fell into despair in the early 1900s and was renovated and re-opened to the public in 1954. In 2001, it was designated as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you are visiting Suzhou, this garden is a must see destination along with the Humble Administrators Garden, another famous classical garden. Visitors to these gardens can gain an appreciation of the major role stones played in the development of classical Chinese Gardens.

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing October 15 of Manabu Kasahara, one of the more influential leaders in the Japanese Suiseki community. Mr. Kasahara operated a Suiseki shop, Sanui-en, in Tokyo from 1966 until his death, and was an important source of quality stones at reasonable prices. He was a highly respected and knowledgeable collector, dealer, and leader in the Suiseki community who eagerly shared his knowledge with others. Mr. Kasahara served on the board of directors of the Nippon Suiseki Association for many years, and as president of the NSA for two years. We have lost a close personal friend, and a friend to viewing stone collectors throughout Japan.  

This truly remarkable museum is located South of Beijing about 30 minutes by high speed train. The facilities include a quality hotel, large garden area, Lingbi Palace, Gallery of Stone Culture, and a stone forest. Numerous large, high quality viewing stones are displayed in the lobby and other public areas of the hotel. A large open garden is adjacent to the hotel where visitors can encounter some of the largest garden stones that can be seen in China. One part of the open garden area is devoted to a stone forest, one that is composed of over 300 fossil trees displayed in upright positions. Many of the trees still retain their flaring bases and a few even have fossil branches attached to the main trunk. It is one of the finest displays of large fossil trees you will find in this country.

The number one jade tree, a 30 meter long fossil tree trunk, is displayed on the first floor of the Lingbi Palace. You may be overwhelmed on the second floor with a grand display of over 300 large, high quality Lingbi stones. This is truly one of the largest displays of these stones in China. High on the walls of this floor are beautiful paintings of this Lingbi collection by the well- known contemporary artist of stones, Du Ming Cen.

Stone enthusiasts, especially of Lingbi stones, and anyone who specializes in fossil trees should definitely visit this museum. It is accessible by train from Beijing and the accommendation are nice.

The World Bonsai Friendship Federation in association with the City of Saitama and other organizations staged an impressive bonsai and suiseki convention with a series of demonstrations and exhibitions. It was the finest display of bonsai and stones ever held in Japan. As part of this event, the Nippon Suiseki Association organized an exhibit of 100 of the best viewing stones in Japan. The NSA also sponsored a lecture The Nature of Suiseki in Japan by Wil Lautenschlager. Both the exhibit and the lecture were outstanding. The NSA will publish a catalog of the 100 stones displayed in this convention later this year.

The large Wan Chun Yuan Landscape Garden in Southwestern Shanghai is closed. All the buildings in this complexed were razed to make way for a new development. A replacement stone market may open later this year. The modern spacious stone museum in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, is now closed.