Kunlun jade — nephrite from the mountains south of Xinjiang and north of Tibet — has been prized in China for thousands of years, pre-dating the jade from other sources that later became more fashionable. The Kunlun Jade Museum in Xining's northern district documents the geological origins of the stone, the history of its extraction and trade along the Silk Road, and the techniques of traditional Chinese jade carving.
The display pieces include carved ornaments from Han Dynasty tombs, Qing Dynasty court objects, and contemporary carvings. The museum doubles as a commercial showroom for local jade dealers — you will be offered jade on your way out — but the historical collection is genuine and interesting. Admission is around 30 yuan.