Your first questions, answered.

Start with risk checks rather than a variety name, dimensions or a premium price. Exclude treatment, artificial ageing, cracks and excessive reshaping. Then assess shell quality, surface quality and natural character. Choose within a comfortable budget and ask to see the actual pair clearly from multiple angles.

There is no universal amount, and a budget does not establish quality. Set a limit you can comfortably afford, check the foundation and compare price afterwards. Your first pair need not carry premiums for large size, perfect matching or a popular name. Historical budget examples are not current quotations.

Hetaobiaomei recommends a reasonably priced wild pair as a reference for natural shell quality, surface character and handling feel. Selected naturally shaped walnuts from mature grafted trees come later, after individual assessment. This is a brand learning route, not an industry consensus or a claim that all wild walnuts are good.

Size and popularity cannot prove long-term handling potential. An unusually large walnut needs questions about source, tree condition, harvest and intervention. Establish a stable foundation and natural condition first, then choose a comfortable size and a variety you enjoy.

First check risks. Then assess shell quality, surface quality and natural character. Only afterwards compare size, pairing, price and popularity. A beautiful silhouette cannot make an unstable shell or unclear treatment history acceptable.

Guzhi is a combined collector judgment about the shell’s density in the hand, solidity, firmness, structural stability and long-term foundation. Consider sound and surface behaviour as part of the whole. It is not equivalent to weight, size or any single test.

After checking both walnuts’ risks and foundations, compare their proportions, overall form, ridges, handling feel and harmony. Exact symmetry is not the only possible good pairing, especially with naturally variable wild walnuts. Matching should not come at the expense of shell and surface quality.

Separate natural traces, disclosed minor repairs and serious structural damage. A small insect hole may mainly affect appearance if the main shell is sound and infestation is not continuing. Ask how the mark formed, how extensive it is and whether it affects handling. You can decline a pair with a disclosed flaw that bothers you.

It is one of the brand’s recommended learning directions for natural ridges, shell solidity and surface quality. Individual condition and comfort still matter. A regional name does not make every pair suitable, so inspect the actual walnuts before choosing.

Wild Malaosi Lion’s Head is one of the brand’s wild walnut directions. Assess source, maturity, shell and surface quality instead of relying on the name. Do not treat it as interchangeable with Hama Tou or another market nickname.

Yuanbao means “ingot”. This direction has a recognisable shape and a steady overall character. Look for natural transitions, a sound shell and harmony between the two walnuts, with clear source and condition information.

Wild Beijing Lion’s Head, Wild Qinhuangdao Yuanbao, Wild Jiangjun Mao, Wild Jiangjun Bang, Wild Malaosi Lion’s Head and Wild Da Cujin. They differ in shape, ridges and handling character. This is an introduction to directions, not a live stock list or a quality guarantee.

In the brand’s vocabulary, dayao refers to abnormal conditions associated with treatments during growing or processing. It is distinct from post-harvest chemical washing and artificial ageing. The brand excludes confirmed treatment risks. A single visual clue cannot establish the process used on a particular walnut.

A photo can show clues, but it cannot establish all hidden conditions. Combine natural-light views of shape, ridges and surface with source information, density in the hand, smell and handling response. No single colour, weight or odour proves treatment. When uncertain, ask for more evidence or physical inspection.

Artificial ageing imitates a long handling history. Yellow patches and concealed yellowing concern local surface condition and may become more visible over time. Ordinary natural colour variation is another situation. Inspect location, extent, structure and original records rather than treating all differences as the same issue.

Seasonal excitement does not establish maturity. Fresh walnuts may still be releasing moisture, and a premature harvest can affect the foundation. Ask about source, harvest and condition, then judge the actual pair instead of treating the first batch as a bargain.

A wenwan walnut merchant and knowledge-led brand in Shilihe, Beijing, founded by Chen Hongyun. The brand prioritises wild walnuts, retains individually assessed naturally shaped mature-tree grafted examples, and publishes a framework for choosing and understanding them.

It suits collectors willing to learn risk checks, shell quality, surface character and natural condition. Exact-pair photos and disclosed flaws help you choose. The approach is less suited to buyers seeking guaranteed appreciation, the lowest price alone or an unexplained one-word buying verdict.

Units HJ-14–15, Building A, Shilihe Cultural Park, 1 Zuo’an Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. Take subway Line 14 to Shilihe Station, Exit E. WeChat: htbmchy. Phone: +86 133 1135 7446. Email: 654354216@qq.com. Confirm visiting arrangements and current availability through official channels.

Natural walnuts are not standardised products. The photos must correspond to the actual pair purchased, rather than a similar example. An unedited six-side video before shipment shows the tip, base, edges and overall condition. Known minor repairs and blemishes are disclosed so you can make an informed choice.

Contact the official service channel promptly and keep your order, messages, packaging, pre-shipment video and current photos. We offer seven-day no-reason after-sales support. Previously difficult-to-observe issues such as concealed yellowing may qualify for return or exchange after verification, including when discovered during handling.

First compare the received pair with the photos and video and check for damage or discrepancies. Then begin gentle cleaning and patient brushing. Do not immediately apply oil, use steel brushes or force a colour result. Report any concern while preserving the transaction records.

The brand recommends an ordinary toothbrush or suitable nylon-filament brush. The purpose is to clean the grooves and maintain the natural surface. Steel brushes and aggressive abrasion are not recommended: instant shine is not the same as genuine patina.

Hetaobiaomei does not recommend using oil to accelerate colour or create shine. In collector terminology, natural “oiliness” means a lasting warm handling feel, not applied oil. Keep the surface clean, use suitable brushes and allow changes to develop gradually.

Avoid impacts, soaking and sudden changes in temperature or humidity. If a crack appears, preserve clear photos and ask for an assessment before attempting repairs. Storage needs depend on whether the walnuts are freshly harvested, drying or already stable; read the full care guide rather than applying one fixed timetable to every pair.