"At the Big Purple Crystal warehouse in eastern China's Donghai County, hundreds of imported amethyst geodes are lined up in rows, their spiky insides open as if mid-scream. Some are shaped like eggs and perched on carved wooden stands. One crystal rides on the back of a bixi, a mythical creature with the body of a turtle and the head of a dragon. On shelves and in boxes lining the floor are countless smaller geodes roughly the size of fists,"
"Over the past few decades, the county has transformed from an unremarkable backwater into the "crystal capital" of China and, arguably, the world. In 2023, its crystal trade was estimated to be worth more than $5.5 billion. Liu is among some 300,000 people-about a quarter of local residents-who work directly in the business as dealers, wholesalers, livestreamers, gemologists, crystal cutters, factory managers, bead stringers, exporters, and freight agents."
Decades ago Donghai was a backwater county; an army of 24/7 livestreamers helped transform it into a multibillion-dollar crystal industry. The county became known as the "crystal capital" with 2023 trade estimated at more than $5.5 billion. About 300,000 people—roughly a quarter of local residents—work directly as dealers, wholesalers, livestreamers, gemologists, crystal cutters, factory managers, bead stringers, exporters and freight agents. Warehouses such as Big Purple Crystal house hundreds of imported amethyst geodes and countless smaller specimens. Crystals from Brazil, Colombia and Zambia pass through Donghai and end up in yoga studios, clinics and tourist shops worldwide.
Read at WIRED
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