How to Tell Hetian Jade Apart from Xiuyan and Dushan Jade
Hetian jade, Xiuyan jade and Dushan jade are three different Chinese stones. Learn how to tell nephrite from serpentine and other local jades.
China has long called several beautiful stones jade. Hetian jade is nephrite; Xiuyan jade is mostly serpentine; Dushan jade is a feldspar-rich rock. They differ in hardness, toughness, lustre and price — only the names sound alike.
The four famous jades
Tradition names four celebrated stones: Hetian jade from Xinjiang, Xiuyan jade from Liaoning, Dushan jade from Henan, and Lantian jade from Shaanxi. Only Hetian jade is nephrite; the others are different minerals that share the courtesy title of jade.
This matters for wear and price: nephrite is far tougher than serpentine, holds a polish better, and has always traded at a premium.
Xiuyan jade is serpentine
Xiuyan jade is mostly serpentine, a soft mineral with a waxy, often yellowish-green look. It is abundant, inexpensive and easy to carve, which is why it appears in so many souvenir carvings.
Serpentine scratches and dulls more easily than nephrite. A piece sold simply as "jade" at a very low price is often Xiuyan material.
Dushan jade, a multicolour rock
Dushan jade is a rock composed mainly of feldspar minerals, often strikingly multicoloured — green, white, brown and purple in one piece. It is traditional in Henan carving and valued for its colour patterns.
It is neither nephrite nor jadeite. In the international sense it is a jade-like ornamental stone, and prices sit far below comparable Hetian pieces.
How to tell them apart
Nephrite feels dense and heavy for its size, with a soft oily lustre and real resistance to scratching. Serpentine is lighter in the hand and scratches easily; Dushan shows its mixed colours immediately.
When in doubt, the certificate settles it: it should name nephrite, serpentine or the actual rock. Never pay Hetian prices for a stone described only as "jade".
This guide is general buying education. It is not an independent laboratory report or an appraisal. Confirm the facts of the individual piece before payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four famous Chinese jades?
Hetian jade from Xinjiang, Xiuyan jade from Liaoning, Dushan jade from Henan and Lantian jade from Shaanxi. Only Hetian jade is nephrite.
Is Xiuyan jade real jade?
Xiuyan jade is mostly serpentine. It carries the traditional Chinese name of jade but is not nephrite or jadeite, and it is much softer and less expensive.
Is Dushan jade valuable?
Good Dushan jade has decorative value, especially its multicolour patterns, but it is not nephrite and trades far below comparable Hetian jade.
How can I tell Hetian jade from Xiuyan jade?
Hetian nephrite is denser and heavier for its size, with an oily lustre and good scratch resistance; Xiuyan serpentine is lighter, softer and often waxy yellowish-green. A certificate settles it.