How we select a pair, from growing area to sale

This is an English reading overview of the Chinese article, rather than a complete translation. The Chinese source has been updated since this overview was prepared; consult the original for the latest details.

The central idea

Selection starts with the source, not size or matching. Hetaobiaomei focuses on Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, prioritises clear mountain sources, excludes confirmed treatment risks, and assesses shell quality before surface quality. Size, pairing, price and disclosure of observed flaws come later. “Wild” is never an exemption from inspecting the actual pair.