Yuhua Shi or Rain Flower Pebbles are souvenir items unique to Nanjing. They are hard compounds of jade, opal, agate and flint quartz that can be made into pendants, rings and earrings.
As written previously, legend says a Buddhist master named Yunguang held ceremonies on a large hill and through his powers, made flowers fall from the sky that turned into colorful pebbles when they finally touched the ground thus calling them Rain Flower Pebbles.
Another story narrating its origin is that rain flower pebbles were formed 12 million years ago. Natural agate contained in volcanic rocks around Nanjing were washed by the Yangtze River for millions of years and gradually developed into colorful patterned pebbles.
Many rain flower pebble stores and stalls are found around Nanjing.
Every rain flower pebble is unique with a different and natural design as seen by one’s imagination. Most rain flower pebbles are usually found with their design beauty already revealed so there is no need to cut, polish, tumble, carve or slice them. The pebble’s surface has a high degree of luster as it has been polished naturally by water action.
Rain flower pebbles displayed submerged in water.
The stones are best presented for viewing by placing them in a small white container of water. When the pebbles are placed in clear water, tiny cavities on the surface are filled with the water molecules, producing deflected light that turns the natural color mosaics into various pictures and patterns such as animals, plants, landscapes, celestial objects, and human figures.
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