Chinese jade is any of the carved-jade objects produced in China from the New Stone Age onward. Chinese people regarded jade articles as representations of virtue, fortune and power. Jade has been used in all periods of Chinese history and generally accords with the style of decorative art characteristic of each period. Many jade wares owned by important historical figures have witnessed great historical events.

Jade is generally classified into soft jade and hard jade. Since China only had the soft jade until hard jade was imported from Burma during the Qing Dynasty, jade traditionally refers to the soft jade so it is also called traditional jade. Hard jade is called Feicui in Chinese. It is now more popular and valuable than the soft jade in China.

Hotan County, Xinjiang is the main jade production center of the world for 2000 years. Since early years the Hotan jade has been transported to mainland China and Eurasian markets in a steady stream.