Travel China - Where to Buy During Your Trip?

When buying during your China trip, depending on what type of goods you are buying, the best out of the best is to go out with a known local person and visit stores that not only targeting at tourists, especially for buying personal items and souvenirs. Ironically the tour guides are most of the time not the best persons to ask since they normally lead you to stores their business partners run. So where to go will be for the guides’ best interest, not yours.

Friendship Stores
In China, friendship stores were originally set up by the government to provide services to foreign visitors. Now, most are like any modern department store with a variety of goods including silk; jewelry made from gold, silver, pearl and jade; embroidered tablecloths and blouses; paintings, porcelain, pottery and handicrafts. Prices are clearly marked on the merchandise. Prices may be slightly higher than at other Chinese stores but the goods are of higher quality and some items are unavailable elsewhere. Government stores have a reputation for honesty. Bargaining is acceptable.

Department Stores
Most department stores are run by the state with some being run by individual or joint venture. The merchandise available in Chinese department stores is similar what you would expect to find in department stores anywhere in the world. Bargaining is seldom acceptable. Look for sales.

Factories
Every arts and crafts factory has a showroom where visitors can buy what is made there. Marked prices may be more expensive than similar items elsewhere but deep discounts of 40 to 50% are common.

Markets
Markets are an ideal place to search for inexpensive items. Markets with many similar shops or stalls have the cheapest prices and it is possible to sometimes find merchandise of good to very good quality. You will need to be extremely careful but those name brand items just might be genuine. They could be seconds or factory overruns. Check everything carefully. The prices are flexible and you should practice your bargaining skill there.

Hotel Stores
Most luxury hotels have their own shopping mall where various souvenirs and daily articles offered. As usual, stores in these hotels are not cheap but you can find some very fine quality clothing, fabrics, and antiques there.