Hetian jade is distributed in the Kunlun Mountains south of the Tarim Basin. Starting from the east of Tashkurgan County in the Kashgar area in the west, including the Andale Tagh and Alaz mountains, it passes through the Sangzhu Tagh, Tiekelike Tagh, and Liush Tagh in the southern part of the Hotan region, and extends to the northwestern wing of the Altun Mountain range, near the Sulamuning Tagh south of Qiemo County.
The Hetian jade mineralization belt stretches intermittently for more than 1,100 kilometers. In these high mountains are distributed the primary deposits and ore occurrences of Hetian jade. Additionally, alluvial jade (or "seed jade") is found in many rivers. Since ancient times, people have regarded the Kunlun Mountains as the "ancestor of all mountains." The grandeur and majesty of the Kunlun Mountains, combined with their abundant production of fine jade, has earned them immense reverence. The existence of Hetian jade also makes the Kunlun Mountains even more renowned.