(Economy&Life) Jieyang becomes China's major jadeite base

JIEYANG, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Jieyang City of south China's Guangdong Province has emerged as a major national base for the design, processing and trade of jadeite, although it does not produce jade locally. 

The jade industry of Jieyang originated in Yangmei Village of Pandong Subdistrict, with jadeite as the dominant produce type. The jade carving craft, known as "Yangmei jadeite carving," was inscribed onto the second batch of China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008. Over 100,000 people are engaged in the jade sector in Jieyang, which encompasses nearly 5,000 merchants and hosts more than 500 jade design and carving studios. A complete industrial chain has taken shape at present, integrating rough jade auction, jade design, processing, trade, exhibition, appreciation, tourism and convention events.