Xiling Seal Society — Stone Seal Carving Art

Tucked on Solitary Hill (Gushan) beside West Lake, the Xiling Seal Society is China's oldest association of seal carvers, founded in 1904. The art of seal carving — engraving characters into stone to create personal stamps used in place of signatures — is a uniquely Chinese art form combining calligraphy, composition, and carving. The society's quiet courtyards, stone inscriptions, and pavilions are a hidden gem on West Lake — few tourists venture here. You can have a personal seal carved on-site as a unique souvenir.