Private museum in Taizhou brings nature's wonders to the public

Xu Qin (right), founder of the Sanshengwan Stone Museum, talks to visitors. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

The Sanshengwan Stone Museum in Hailing district, Taizhou, Jiangsu province, has become a quiet cultural landmark for collectors and curious visitors alike.

Founded in 2012 by stone enthusiast Xu Qin, it is the only privately run ornamental stone museum in East China and is home to a carefully curated collection of 308 rare stones.

Covering about 600 square meters across two floors, the museum combines exhibition spaces with opportunities for people to enhance their knowledge and education. The ground floor displays mineral crystals, ancient fossils and prized agates from Egypt, South Africa and Madagascar. The upper floor serves as a space for cultural activities, workshops and lectures.

Every stone in the collection has been personally selected by Xu through years of searching, exchanges with fellow collectors, and global sourcing. His journey began at the age of 33, when a visit to a stone exhibition sparked a lifelong passion. He later earned national certifications as an ornamental stone appraiser and a stone value assessor, deepening his expertise.

A dinosaur fossil at the museum. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

Over the past decade, Xu and his wife have opened the museum to the public free of charge, welcoming visitors from across China and sharing the stories, science and cultural value behind each piece. The couple has also worked with local communities and schools to host cultural activities and educational programs. "Young children come to learn shapes, middle school students listen to fossil stories, and university students come here to sketch," Xu said. The museum now receives more than 100,000 visitors each year.