Shopping in China, Souvenirs of China, Bargains, Deals
The Treasures and the Pleasures of China

China is a shoppers paradise, with Western-style malls, traditional shop fronts open air markets, and street vendors. You may be looking for a deal on western brands, or you may want a traditional item from China to remind you of your travels. There are many exotic and unusual things to buy in China as souvenirs and gifts for relatives and friends back home.

Shopping for Silk and Tailored Clothes in China

Let's look at the choices you have for traditional sourvenirs and treasures. What comes first to mind is Chinese silk. Chinese silk is famous all over the world for its magnificent quality, color and variety. And the Chinese were the first to discover how to make silk from the cocoons of silkworms. Those traditional dresses for women, the stylish and tight-fitting cheongsam or qipao, like Suzie Wong wore in the eponymous movie, are available in a rainbow of silk colors. The Chinese are also world-famous for tailored garments for men and women. Your hotel can recommend a tailor.

Shopping for Chinese Antiques

The market in antiques is booming. Items made before 1795 cannot be exported from China, and more recent items made between 1795 and 1949 must have a red wax seal attached and paperwork for export. When you are shopping for better products, you have to beware of fakes and counterfeits. For example, I'm fond of jade, but I'm not enough of an authority on jade to tell the difference between authentic and fake. So I don't pay a lot for jade, unless I have someone to appraise the piece.

Shopping for Souvenirs of China

Here are a few souvenir items you may enjoy. Hand-stitched embroideries, teapots, painted fans, decorative screens, Chinese silk carpets, figurines in ceramic, bronze or terracotta, scenic paintings on silk, woodcarvings of Chinese deities. In ancient Chinese tradition, the four treasures of study for scholars are writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper, which make an interesting desk set and souvenir.

Shopping for Peals in China

China is known for its pearls, in Chinese tradition the gems of love. The Chinese grind them up in Nanzhung tablets as an aphrodesiac. Cultured pearls are farmed in oyster beds and are used in less expensive jewelry. Saltwater pearls are more expensive than freshwater pearls. You can test a pearl to tell if it is real. Real pearls have a gritty feel when you rub them against your teeth.

Shopping for Reproductions of Chinese Art

The museum shops sell attractive, inexpensive reproductions of items in the museum collection. And the shops near important tourist sights also sell replicas of the attractions. You could come home with a smiling gold Buddha, or a miniature terracotta warrior, or a piece of the Great Wall of China.

Shopping for Collectibles in China

Among the less expensive collectibles you could take home from China are peasant paintings, lacquerware and artificial flowers. I'm not a big fan of mass-produced tchotchkies or shoddy kitsch, but I am partial to those red Chinese hanging lanterns with gold tassels. Back home after your trip, you could plan a party with a Chinese theme to show off your purchases and share your travel pictures. One of the most popular souvenirs is a chop, which is a seal, a small stone stamp engraved with your own name. You use it with an ink pad to imprint your signature on paper.

Shopping for Tea in China

The Chinese pride themselves as connoisseurs of tea, and sell hundreds of varieties. Tea comes in five categories - green tea, black tea, brick tea, scented tea, and oolong tea. I understand white tea is a special delicacy. Each region in China offers unique blends. When you get back home, you could have a tea party or a tea tasting with your collection of Chinese teas.

More Chinese Souvenirs

Have you seen the Chinese kites flying in the parks? Kites, invented by the Chinese, make a great memento of your time in China. You can hang them on your walls at home as decorative objects, or fly them yourself, or give them as gifts to youngsters. Other items you might like are opera masks based on the characters in Chinese opera. Little cricket cages are easy to carry home, and a cricket chirping on the hearth is said to bring good luck.

One of my favorite souvenirs of China was a set of four brass Chinese characters to hang on the wall or use as trivets. One character symbolizes luck, one means wealth, one means happiness and one means family. Since the Chinese language is made up of pictographs, these are very attractive.

How to Haggle and Bargain in Chinese Shops

Street markets usually have the lowest prices. Bargaining or haggling for prices is expected at the smaller shops. A merchant will show you the price on a calculator, and expect you to enter your offer on the calculator. The process of offer and counteroffer can continue back and forth for some time, before a deal is made. Using the calculator allows everyone to overcome the language barrier. Hotels, government stores and large malls will not discount their marked prices.

Shopping for Gifts for Chinese People

While you are out shopping, why not buy a present for your hostess or your new Chinese friend, something like a box of chocolates or a bath set or scented toiletries. For your host a gift of a tie and shirt, a bottle of nice wine or whiskey, will say thank you. A present of toys for children always makes a good impression. Wrap the gift in red or gold colored wrapping paper, colors that signify prosperity and fortune. Do respect Chinese traditions when you choose a gift for your Chinese host or new friends. Avoid giving anyone a green hat, because Mao hats were green. Stay away from white flowers other than roses, because white flowers signify death. Don't give a clock or watch to anyone, as this also represents death. Also don't give candles or strong perfume to an older person, also symbols of death.

I hope you have an exciting vacation.
I wish you a very happy day.

Travel Guide Jeff, Travel Welcome

>> Please Return to the Top
Shopping in China for Souvenirs



Share this page with someone, by Email, Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon, and your favorite social site