Huanghuali The Chinese term huanghuali literally means "yellow flowering pear" wood. The finest huanghuali has a translucent shimmering surface with abstractly figured patterns that delight the eye - those appearing like ghost faces were highly prized. The color can range from reddish-brown to golden-yellow. Historical references point to HainanIsland as the main source of huali. However, variations in the color, figure, and density suggest similar species sourced throughout North Vietnam, Guangxi, Indochina and the other isles of the South China Sea.