Province develops unique industry to make the most of its rich, varied reserves

In a workshop at Guizhou Tianyun Shishang Co, in Anshun, Guizhou province, more than 40 pieces of stone manufacturing equipment work day and night to produce various types of stone, including slabs, garden kerbstones and carved stones.

The Anshun Dragon Palace scenic area covers 60 square meters.

The stones are used in engineering projects across China and some are exported overseas.

Unlike traditional factories, where stone dust often fills the air, the workshop is slick and clean as employees inspect every product carefully to ensure it meets the correct standards.

Guiyang Tianyuan Shishang Co is just one of many stone factories in Guizhou province that have transformed and upgraded in recent years.

A flower dance performed by members of the Miao ethnic group is a traditional part of local festivals.

Guizhou boasts a vast and diverse reserve of quality stones and is an important production base of premium stone materials in China.

In recent years, the stone material industry in Guizhou has developed rapidly. Last year, the province's total output from the stone material industry reached nearly 5 billion yuan ($787 million).

The number of stone material enterprises exceeded 130 and had combined capacity to process more than 25 million square meters of stone board.

Huangguoshu Waterfall in Anshun is one of the largest waterfalls in China.

The majority of these enterprises are in Zhenning, Huaxi, Shiqian, Sinan and Anlong.

According to Zhou Shifei, chief engineer of Guizhou Provincial Commission of Economy and Information Technology, the total reserve of stone materials in Guizhou is more than 10 billion cubic meters, making it one of the most important sources of stone in the country.

Stone resources are abundant in 63 counties and cities in the province and include 75 kinds of stone including reserves of 7.3 billion cubic meters of marble, 6.5 million cubic meters of granite, 500 million cubic meters of diabase, 33 million cubic meters of graystone and 1.9 billion cubic meters of decorative limestone, according to the Guizhou Provincial Commission of Economy and Information Technology.

Guizhou is also home to stones not found in other parts of the country, such as shellstone and wood-grain stone. Five types of stones produced in Guizhou won the title of "unique stone materials in China" last year.

Several stone manufacturers in Guizhou have adopted cold-processing techniques to make full use of the natural grains of stones and to ensure no burnt marks are left on stone edges. The technique makes the finished products look natural and unique and have proved to be hot sellers across China in the past 10 years.

In Anshun, a city about 90 kilometers away from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province, a unique looking yellow-white marble has long enjoyed international popularity.

In recent years, stone enterprises in the city have developed several other unique types of wood-grain stones, which have enjoyed popularity in big Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and have been exported to countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, France, Italy and South Korea, according to Hu Jihong, deputy Party chief of Anshun.

From Oct 29 to 31, the first Guizhou International Stone Material Expo and the first National Stone Sculpture and Carving Design Contest will be held in Anshun.

Representatives from stone material enterprises, purchasers and dealers from across China and more than 10 other countries, including the UK, France, the US, Italy and Turkey are expected to participate in the event.

The expo hopes to help create a high-end trade and display platform for the stone material industry in Guizhou and attracts more attention from other parts of China and overseas to promote the development of the industry, according to Zhou.

Hu said the city would grasp opportunities brought about by the expo to introduce more big stone material enterprises and increase the overall competitiveness of the industry in Anshun.

Contact the writers at yangjun@chinadaily.com.cn and wangxiaodong@chinadaily.com.cn

Guizhou gears up for stone expo, sculpting contest Province develops unique industry to make the most of its rich, varied reserves YANG JUN/WANG XIAODONG

In a workshop at Guizhou Tianyun Shishang Co, in Anshun, Guizhou province, more than 40 pieces of stone manufacturing equipment work day and night to produce various types of stone, including slabs, garden kerbstones and carved stones.

The stones are used in engineering projects across China and some are exported overseas.

Unlike traditional factories, where stone dust often fills the air, the workshop is slick and clean as employees inspect every product carefully to ensure it meets the correct standards.

Guiyang Tianyuan Shishang Co is just one of many stone factories in Guizhou province that have transformed and upgraded in recent years.

Guizhou boasts a vast and diverse reserve of quality stones and is an important production base of premium stone materials in China.

In recent years, the stone material industry in Guizhou has developed rapidly. Last year, the province's total output from the stone material industry reached nearly 5 billion yuan ($787 million).

The number of stone material enterprises exceeded 130 and had combined capacity to process more than 25 million square meters of stone board.

The majority of these enterprises are in Zhenning, Huaxi, Shiqian, Sinan and Anlong.

According to Zhou Shifei, chief engineer of Guizhou Provincial Commission of Economy and Information Technology, the total reserve of stone materials in Guizhou is more than 10 billion cubic meters, making it one of the most important sources of stone in the country.

Stone resources are abundant in 63 counties and cities in the province and include 75 kinds of stone including reserves of 7.3 billion cubic meters of marble, 6.5 million cubic meters of granite, 500 million cubic meters of diabase, 33 million cubic meters of graystone and 1.9 billion cubic meters of decorative limestone, according to the Guizhou Provincial Commission of Economy and Information Technology.

Guizhou is also home to stones not found in other parts of the country, such as shellstone and wood-grain stone. Five types of stones produced in Guizhou won the title of "unique stone materials in China" last year.

Several stone manufacturers in Guizhou have adopted cold-processing techniques to make full use of the natural grains of stones and to ensure no burnt marks are left on stone edges. The technique makes the finished products look natural and unique and have proved to be hot sellers across China in the past 10 years.

In Anshun, a city about 90 kilometers away from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province, a unique looking yellow-white marble has long enjoyed international popularity.

In recent years, stone enterprises in the city have developed several other unique types of wood-grain stones, which have enjoyed popularity in big Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and have been exported to countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, France, Italy and South Korea, according to Hu Jihong, deputy Party chief of Anshun.

From Oct 29 to 31, the first Guizhou International Stone Material Expo and the first National Stone Sculpture and Carving Design Contest will be held in Anshun.

Representatives from stone material enterprises, purchasers and dealers from across China and more than 10 other countries, including the UK, France, the US, Italy and Turkey are expected to participate in the event.

The expo hopes to help create a high-end trade and display platform for the stone material industry in Guizhou and attracts more attention from other parts of China and overseas to promote the development of the industry, according to Zhou.

Hu said the city would grasp opportunities brought about by the expo to introduce more big stone material enterprises and increase the overall competitiveness of the industry in Anshun.

Contact the writers at yangjun@chinadaily.com.cn and wangxiaodong@chinadaily.com.cn