Abounding with various unusual and characteristic goods, China will never make you disappointed or worried about what to bring back. As wonderful mementos and gifts for your friends and relatives, special merchandise of various kinds, including Chinese silk, tea, antiques, paintings and calligraphy, Chinese medicines, jade and pearls, handicrafts, among others, are always available for your choice.
Distinctive things are mainly sold in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, Chengdu, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Lhasa, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and especially Hong Kong, the city which is reputed world wide as a ‘Shopping Paradise’. It is the shopping destination that tourists most long to visit. Different Chinese cities have different local specialities: Beijing is noted for cloisonne enamel and fresh water pearls; Shanghai is renowned for jade; Xian is celebrated for antiques and rugs, while Guilin is famous for scroll paintings and bijouterie. Particularly, Suzhou and Hangzhou are well known for silk and tea. All will provide plenty of ideas for fulfilling your shopping trip.
There are many choices to keep your shopping intentions occupied. Haggling was never the norm before, but due to the greatly overpriced goods offered nowadays, it would be wise to bargain or compare prices in the free markets. If you’re an antique enthusiast, China will be a place after your own heart with so many antiques and curio shops abound. Nevertheless, it is essential to check that the official red seal of the shop is on the product. If not, it will pose a lot of problems buying and exporting antiques without this stamp. Go to smaller towns in China where ethnic minorities live and you will find a wide selection of craft objects for daily use or specially embroidered garments.
