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  Tu Baosheng collects crystals because he feels that there is an affinity between them and himself. He’s also fascinated by their shape.

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  This one looks like an eagle.

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  Watch out for this “crocodile” with its’ jaws stretched wide open!

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  The crystal looks like a dinosaur.

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  This one looks like an elephant. if only its' trunk were a little longer!

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  This one looks like a seal coated with a thick layer of snow. Hope it’s not feeling too cold!

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  Despite being an inanimate object, this crystal continues to grow and has even “given birth” to a small pointed crystal.

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  This crystal might look like a sea cucumber, but you had better not give in to your hunger and try to eat it!

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  This would look perfect in an aquarium.

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  This purple crystal is the one that caught Tu’s attention two years ago and made him start his collection.

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  This one looks like a mountain.

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  Lion dances are believed to drive away evil and bad luck. Is this crystal (which looks like a sculpture depicting one such performance) able to do the same?

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  The rhinoceros is currently facing extinction. Would that fact make this crystal even more valuable?

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MALAYSIA: Crystals have been said to possess mystical properties, and some feng shui experts have written guides on how crystals can be used to improve a person’s life.

However, that’s not the reason why 66-year-old retiree Tu Baosheng likes to collect them. He’s fascinated by their shape; if a crystal resembles something, he’ll be drawn to it like a bee to honey.

This fact is reflected by the specimens in his collection: some look like animals while others resemble plants. The large variety of shapes is amazing, and the crystals were all formed naturally.

Like works of art sculpted by the hand of Nature, each individual crystal is unique.

In addition, the crystals are “alive” – they continue to grow and are becoming more luminescent.

Therefore, Tu submerges the crystals in water for two to three hours once every two months to sustain them and keep them from crumbling.

Tu became hooked on crystals two years ago when he passed a stall selling them. A purple crystal on display caught his eye and he felt an indescribable sensation in his heart. It was like love at first sight. He promptly bought the crystal.

He said that he seemed to have a “connection” with his crystals. Whenever he saw a crystal that he had an affinity with, a certain feeling would come over him. Even after some time had passed, the feeling would return whenever he looked at the crystal.

“It’s been said that when someone takes a fancy to a particular crystal, the crystal in question won’t be able to be sold until the person who fancied it comes to buy it. It’s a remarkable phenomenon!”

Ever since he bought his first crystal, Tu has continued adding to his collection. Whenever he passes a shop selling crystals, he will step in to have a look, waiting to experience that feeling of connection in his heart. To date, he has 153 crystals in his collection.

“When buying crystals, it’s not necessary to worry about not finding a crystal that you’ll love. There’s also no need to skim through the offerings. If [you] find a crystal that [you] have a connection with, it’s bound to create a resonance!”

Tu generally buys crystals from wholesalers that he knows. Since their prices are usually lower, he sometimes buys a bunch of crystals in one go.

“I’m not a professional collector, so there’s no need [for me] to buy expensive crystals. In my collection, the average price for each piece is about a hundred ringgit, the most expensive piece is only three hundred ringgit or so.”

He pointed out that he didn’t collect crystals for any feng shui benefits they might have had. However, ever since he started his collection, his body has become healthier and his life in general has improved.