Taihu stones, also known as perforated stones or artificial mountain stones, are formed over long periods through the gradual erosion of limestone. They come in two main varieties: water‑worn stones and dry stones. Water‑worn stones are slowly sculpted by the relentless action of flowing water in rivers and lakes, while dry stones emerge from the enduring erosive forces exerted by acidic red soils on ancient limestone deposits. With their diverse shapes and myriad forms, Taihu stones—characterized by their ethereal, translucent beauty—are the quintessential embodiment of the aesthetic principles of “wrinkled, perforated, slender, and transparent.”