Residents of Chinese city mine construction sites for jadeite, hoping to strike it rich
Search for gemstones leads locals to enter sites unlawfully
Residents of a southwestern Chinese city known for its rich jadeite resources have been mining construction sites for the gemstones despite authorities urging them against dreaming of making a fortune overnight.
The small laid-back city of Tengchong in Yunnan province has 600 years’ history of jadeite processing and is a centre for jadeite trade in Southeast Asia, China News Service reported.
Not all the gemstones were recovered during jadeite processing and thus each time the city digs up a site, residents also dig to find jadeite.
Guang Hua Road went through reconstruction on September 26, sparking a digging frenzy among residents with some even entering the construction site in the hope of discovering the precious gem, according to the report.