Artistic stone carvings from Qingtian county in southern Zhejiang province will be on display at Zhejiang Saili Art Gallery in Hangzhou from Sept 16 to Oct 30.

Stone carving is one of Qingtian's most treasured art forms. The carvings are made of high-quality pyrophyllite, a type of silicate with a perfect hardness for carving and sculpting. The best type of Qingtian stone (found in large amounts in the county) has a translucent, jelly-like texture.

Qingtian stone carvings can be traced back at least to the Six Dynasties period (222-589). A set of four carved baby pigs dating from that period is on display at Zhejiang Museum.

The craftsmanship has improved over the years and many talented artists have emerged. The majority of their works have traditional themes which fit Chinese aesthetics such as landscapes, flowers, birds, and human figures.

The Zhejiang Saili Art Gallery exhibition will display more than 200 carvings, including some by national masters like Lin Rukui and Ni Dongfang. Rare specimens with superb stone quality will also be on view.

Time: Sept 16 – Oct 30

Address: Zhejiang Saili Art Gallery (No 369, Jiangcheng Road, Shangcheng district, Hangzhou)