Most of the slate was formed during the Ordovician and Cambrian periods, 400 to 600 million years ago. Here you will find the beautiful, high quality black slate, which comprises 50% of the national production capacity. People from all over the world have come to visit the area for sourcing, purchasing and investment in slate.
Many Chinese roofing services contractor quarries are served by poor transport systems which makes getting the material to port costly. Exporting quarries are often located close to a main navigable river such as the Yangtze or Yellow River or near rail lines. During the Chinese New Year in late January or February (depending on the lunar cycle), some quarries may close for a month, meaning production can come to a standstill during this period. China is almost exactly the same size as the U.S. with similar climate differences. The best time to visit is in the spring (March ‘April) or autumn (Sept Oct).
Winters can be very cold and summers extremely hot. Most major cities have air transportation and the rail system is efficient, although even 1st class can be basic. Roads are variable, ranging from highways to muddy tracks. Consequently, it can take up to 5 days to reach some quarries. The two main transport hubs are Hong Kong and Beijing. Any business person planning to visit China will either need to speak Mandarin or have an interpreter. English is widely spoken in Beijing. Sian, Shanghai and elsewhere in tourist areas, but as soon as you get off the beaten path, you will have great difficulty communicating without some knowledge of the language.