The mines of Hpakant, Burma

The Hpakant township in Kachin state is known as “the Land of Jade” for its high-quality stone, long prized by the Chinese for its beauty and symbolism. “Gold is valuable, but jade is priceless,” according to an old Chinese saying. Many years ago it was the native Kachins’ work to dive into the water, climb across the mountains, and look for a good piece of raw jade using an iron pick. Today the precious land attracts hundreds of thousands of men from across the country, who come with one dream—to find the shortcut to wealth.