Tenchong's history is inextricably entwined with the jadeite trade

Tengchong's history and culture are closely related to jade. Hundreds of jewelry shops and stalls cluster in the city's markets. [PHOTO BY LIU XIANGRUI/CHINA DAILY]

"The jadeite business was closely related to the economic growth of the city over the past years," says Lu, who was one of the earliest to be involved in the business after the border was opened up.

Lu estimates that the jadeite industry in Tengchong has reached a scale of 6 billion yuan ($872 million), and jadeite is now firmly established as part of the local culture.

"Ask a local resident, old or young, he or she is likely to know something about jadeite. And almost every family in Tengchong will have some jadeite pieces," says Li Bo, a local tour guide.

Li says the city's jadeite culture is also an important attraction for tourists, many of whom come to buy jadeite pieces at various price levels and to purchase the traditional "gambling stones" - which are rocks that contain some kind of jade within but the quality remains to be determined. Potential buyers can be seen using a flashlight to try and ascertain whether the jade inside is good or not.

Lu's jadeite museum, which opened five years ago, displays more than 100 pieces of raw jadeite as well as more than 3,000 pieces of old jadeite pieces from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) along with some unfinished pieces.