[2025 Qingtian Attraction] Travel Guide for Qingtian Shidiao Museum (Updated May)

Half Jiangnan charm, half European style, encounter the unique romance of Qingtian Nestled amidst the mountains and rivers of southeastern Zhejiang, lies a small town, half a graceful and elegant Jiangnan water town, half a charming European city-state, unique and enchanting. This is Qingtian. Stepping into Qingtian, the Oujiang River meanders through the city, its waters shimmering, reflecting the scenery on both banks. Strolling along the riverbank, a gentle breeze caresses your face, carrying a hint of moisture, refreshing and pleasant. Looking up, the distant mountains rise and fall, lush and green, sketching a traditional Chinese painting. Ancient stone bridges span the river, connecting the past and the present, witnessing the long history of the small town. If you come in the early morning, the river is shrouded in mist, dreamy and illusory, as if you have stepped into a poem or painting, filled with the subtle charm of a Jiangnan water town. Qingtian also has a rich European flavor. European-style buildings line the streets, with Gothic spires and Baroque carvings, making you feel as if you are in a European town. In the streets and alleys, cafes, bars, and Western restaurants are scattered, and the air is filled with the rich aroma of coffee and the wheaty fragrance of bread. Step into a cafe, order a cup of fragrant latte, sit by the window, watch the pedestrians stroll by, and feel the comfort and leisure, as if you have arrived on the streets of France. You can even use euros here, and a wide variety of imported goods are available, released simultaneously with Europe, and mostly duty-free, making it easy to enjoy "global shopping." Qingtian, known as the "Hometown of Stone Carving," has a long and profound history of stone carving art. Stepping into the Qingtian Stone Carving Museum, you will be amazed by the countless exquisite stone carving works on display. These works are made of local Qingtian stone, which is warm, delicate, and rich in color. With their exquisite skills, the craftsmen carve the stones into lifelike figures, lively animals, and beautiful landscapes. Each piece is imbued with their painstaking efforts and wisdom, giving life and soul to the stone, and showcasing the unique cultural charm of Qingtian. Food is another essential part of Qingtian that cannot be missed. Qingtian cuisine blends Jiangnan flavors with international characteristics, forming a unique food culture. Shanfen Jiao, with soft taro and sweet potato flour as the skin, wrapped with fillings such as vegetables and minced meat, made into a triangular shape, and steamed until soft and fragrant, is a regular on the locals' dining table. There is also Qingtian Mai Bing, similar to Jinyun Shaobing, but with its own characteristics. The thick filling includes lean meat, fatty meat, dried vegetables, and dried shrimp, baked until the outer skin is golden and crispy. Taking a bite brings a sense of satisfaction. Of course, you can also enjoy authentic Western food in Qingtian, such as Italian pasta, Spanish paella, and French steak, to satisfy your cravings for international cuisine. As night falls and the lights come on, Qingtian takes on another charming appearance. The banks of the Oujiang River are brightly lit, and the colorful lights reflect in the river water, creating a dreamy scene. The shops along the streets are brightly lit, and people are either enjoying food in restaurants or strolling and chatting on the streets, filled with the breath of life. At this time, Qingtian has both the tranquility and peace of a small Jiangnan town at night and the bustling prosperity of a European city, making people linger and reluctant to leave. Qingtian, a small town that blends diverse cultures, exudes a unique charm, whether it's the natural scenery, unique culture, or food and lifestyle, waiting for you to explore and discover.

Located in Qingtian County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, the Qingtian Stone Carving Museum serves as a hub for Qingtian stone culture and encapsulates the county's 6,000-year history of stone carving. "Stone as beautiful as jade, Qingtian reigns supreme. Sculpting according to the material, human skill surpasses nature's creation." Qingtian's renown stems from its brilliant stone carving culture, earning it the title of "Hometown of Stone Carving." As early as the Songze Culture period, people began to recognize and utilize Qingtian stone, as evidenced by the "Qingtian Huang" artifact unearthed from a brick kiln in Qianjin Town, Huzhou City. The stone's warm texture, elegant colors, suitable brittleness and softness, and diverse varieties have captivated artists, making it a treasured material. Since the late Yuan Dynasty, when the renowned painter and poet Wang Mian pioneered the use of Qingtian stone for seal carving, Qingtian seal stones have graced the studies of scholars and even the desks of emperors and high-ranking officials. In 1790, two sets of seal buttons, "Baodian Fushu" and "Yuanzhang Shoudie," crafted from Qingtian Dengguang Dong stone, were presented as tributes to the 80-year-old Qianlong Emperor, marking the beginning of stone seals entering the Forbidden City. In 2001, Qingtian stone, along with Shoushan stone, Changhua stone, and Balin stone, were recognized as the four most famous stones in China. Qingtian stone also became the first to obtain a national origin certification trademark for stone carving. Qingtian · Lishui

Longquan celadon, Longquan swords, and Qingtian stone carvings are collectively known as the "Three Treasures of Lishui" and are also Lishui's most shining cultural golden business cards. The Qingtian stone carving technique originated in the Six Dynasties period. It is made from the Qingtian talc in Lishui and is known as the "best carving in the world". It has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. The mineralization age of Qingtian Stone, which is as smooth as jade, is from the Late Jurassic to Cretaceous period 140 million years ago. It is produced in Qingtian, the "Hometown of Chinese Stone Sculpture". Qingtian Stone is known as the "ancestor of seal stones" and is one of the four major seal stones in China, along with Tianhuang Stone, Changhua Stone and Chicken Blood Stone. Qingtian stone carvings pay attention to the use of materials and colors, and enjoy the reputation of "embroidery on stone". It is known for its carving skills, which combine both form and spirit, and is full of realistic and artistic conception methods.

In Qingtian, there is an interesting museum - Qingtian Stone Sculpture Museum, which houses cute treasures that can melt people's hearts. As the distribution center of Qingtian stone cultural tourism and the only professional stone carving culture museum in China, the Qingtian Stone Sculpture Museum carries the epitome of 6,000 years of stone carving history and great hopes for the future. The museum houses representative works of national masters, famous works of past dynasties, and masterpieces of contemporary artists. It is a symbol of Qingtian culture and spirit. "There are stones as beautiful as jade, and Qingtian is the most magnificent in the world." Qingtian stone carving originated in the "Songze Culture" period 5,000 years ago, and absorbed the "Qiaoyu Stone" craftsmanship in the Qing Dynasty, creating the "multi-level hollow carving" technology for Chinese stone carving. Qingtian Stone is one of the "Four Famous Stones of China". As a mainstream seal stone, it is known as the "Book Stone". A small stone may exist on the earth for hundreds of millions of years, witnessing the passage of time and changes in the world, and containing cosmic energy. Just like the Heshi Bi, to those who understand it, it is a priceless treasure, but to those who don’t, it is just a piece of stubborn stone. Being able to identify treasures from the ordinary is also a kind of wisdom. Even if you cannot reach professional level, it is good to know this concept. The stone carvings of fruits, flowers, trees, pavilions, towers and figures carved from hard stone are so lifelike and realistic in details that they embody the hard work of generations of stone carving craftsmen. In Qingtian, stone carving is undoubtedly a business card that cannot be avoided. So when you come to Qingtian, the China Stone Carving Cultural Tourism Area is definitely a tourist attraction you cannot miss!