Hotan (Khotan)

Hotan (Khotan) stands as the preeminent jade-trading city, sourcing white nephrite from the Yurungkash River at 3 tons annually and sustaining a 2,000-year-old trade. Jade prices here average $300 per gram, three times higher than typical rival gemstones, driving an economy that attracts 10,000 weekly visitors to its Sunday market—40% more footfall than #9 Kuqa. Its nephrite is 30% lighter than jadeite, prized for its purity, with historical exports reaching Rome and Persia. This unmatched resource, lighter and more valuable than the runner-up's stone, cements Hotan's legacy as the Silk Road's jade epicenter.