Bargains of China

29 September, 2010 in C. CROSSROADS THROUGH CHINA by Thomas E. King by Thomas | 285 comments

Offering markets overflowing with the handicrafts and the ambience of yesteryear as well as modern-as-tomorrow shopping malls stocked with designer brands, China is a shopping paradise.  There’s no shortage of places to spend your money and virtually no limit to what you can buy.

Sophisticated shopping centres complete with fast food outlets and cineplexes can now be found in all major Chinese cities.  Stylish emporiums particularly abound in China’s big three cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

For instance, a concentration of joint venture shopping complexes has been built at Wangfujing Dajie in the Chinese capital.  There are also popular markets such as Silk Street, the Sanlitun Yashou Clothing Market and the Pearl Market.

Artistic Designs

Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road are major shopping streets in Shanghai.  The Number One Department Store on Nanjing Road is still a personal favourite though it doesn’t have the same funky feel as when I bought a radio in the shape of a panda there some 30 years ago!

Bargains Galore

Bargains Galore

If you want shopping with atmosphere try the YuYuan Bazaar in Shanghai.  (This popular shopping area surrounds the YuYuan Gardens, a noted tourist destination.)

The 300 metre long Beijing Liu in Guangzhou is lined with shops, big and small.  Visit the city’s Tianhé area, however, if you are looking for fashionable shopping plazas. 

Note that outside of major department stores prices are more reasonable in Guangzhou than in nearby Hong Kong.

With an idea of where to buy it’s fitting to provide an overview of what to buy.

If you are after well crafted souvenirs plus kitsch it’s hard to overlook roving vendors wandering around tourist sites.  Inspect goods because quality may be substituted for price.

Tourists on package tours may well be taken to workshops where jade is carved, silk is woven, carpets are made and art shops where paintings are completed.

Chinese jade carving is often regarded as the finest craft of Oriental art.  Beijing has one of the country’s largest jade carving factories with many famous jade carvers living in the capital.

Cloisonné, a metal craft art form developed in the 15th century, is now used to decorate vases, jewellery, bowls and even lamps.

Another distinctive item from China is red lacquer ware seen as vases, plates, bowls and ornate screens.  This unique art work may require up to 500 coats of lacquer applied to a copper base and then carved with designs. 

Shopping Bonanza

Silk is often synonymous with China.  The lustrous fabric available in a multitude of colours is popular for making shirts and blouses as well as pyjamas and bedspreads.  Silk flowers and silk dolls are also favourite souvenirs.

Speciality Crafts

Speciality Crafts

Meanwhile, paintings and calligraphy works are found in thousands of shops all over China.  Age, intricacy and quality dictate price.  Note that reproductions are widespread.

Carpets, both modern and antique find their way from showrooms back to homes.  Made from wool or silk and finished with dragon and phoenix designs these woven works of art make excellent wall hangings.

Chinese artisans also produce a staggering variety of handicrafts like figurines and animals made from clay or glutinous rice flour.

Kites can be bought to use as distinctive ornaments or gifts.  Another special item is anything finished with embroidery.  Table cloths, serviettes, sheets and handkerchiefs often benefit from fancy needlework.

Bottles that have been painted on the inside would have to rate as one of the more unusual things handmade in China.

Bargaining is the name of the game when shopping in China.  It’s common to bargain in small shops, at street stalls, in markets and occasionally even in some hotels shops.

The practice, however, isn’t observed in large shops, Friendship Stores and department stores where ‘fixed price’ is the language spoken.

Some visitors revel in the art of bargaining and have perfected their skills to a fine art.  Others are reluctant to banter with sales staff opting instead to pay the marked price without question.

There are a few simple rules to remember when bargaining in China.  When entering a store I greet the shopkeeper with Ni hao ma (How are you?), a courtesy which invariable evokes a smile.  Politeness is also a key factor; bargaining should never become a heated debate.

After determining the cost of an item, offer 25 per cent to 50 per cent and work up from there.  Take your time.  If the vendor doesn’t want to bargain more then walk away.  This manoeuvre often clinches the deal as you’re called back to pay your price.

Take care with money and other belongings in crowded markets.  Many travellers including myself use a money pouch tucked inside their clothing to safeguard against disaster.

Some visitors feel intimidated by noisy crowded markets and instead frequent air conditioned outlets in sedate hotel surrounds.

These quiet shopping sanctuaries can be places to benchmark prices and styles but I usually only whiz through them to buy a newspaper or postcard.

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