Traditionally, Spring Festival is a time of good luck and prosperity, but global economic uncertainty and the government's crackdown on extravagant officials are making this a less-than-happy new year for retailers of the precious stone, as Zhu Lixin reports from Bengbu, Anhui province.

In Chinese, the word yu, or "jade", is often used to refer to the most beautiful and precious things. People who know the language well will recognize the word because it appears in many idiomatic old saws, usually those expressing wishes for prosperity and good luck.

"Almost as a part of our belief system, we Chinese think jade can bring us happiness and good luck, so love and pursuit of the magic stones has lasted for thousands of years", said Li Jiaxi, chairman of the Bengbu Jade Society.