shopping

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But each city has its own speciaty. With so many options available, shopping can be time consuming, confusing and exhausting. Thus,what should we buy ?

There are some buying suggestions for you:

Beijing: Cloisonné, Fresh water pearls

Xian: Replicas of the Terra Cotta soldiers, Tangsancai ( Tang Dynasty hand painted China), Antique Furniture

Shanghai: Silk carpets

Hangzhou: Longjing Tea; Silk

Suzhou: Silk

Guilin: Scroll paintings, China Southern Sea Pearls

Yunnan: Mounted Butterflies, Pure tea, Dali Batik (tie-dyed fabric)

Xinjiang: Carpets, jade articles

Tibet: Thang-ka（tanka）(Sheep skin wall hangings)

There are six major kinds of shopping places in China: Department store, Tourist store, Supermarket, Bargain Market, Factory and Hotel store.

Department store

A shopping place run by the state with others, by individual or joint venture where sells the commodities of all manners for daily use and the price are much more cheaper.But the price is usually fixed, and bargaining is seldom acceptable. If you need something like everyday necessities, snacks or even clothes, you can go there for your things.

Tourist store

Designated by the government and are appointed to provide services to foreign visitors with a variety of goods available including silk, jewelry made from gold, silver, pearl and jade, embroidered tablecloths and blouses, paintings, four treasures of the study, porcelain, pottery and handicrafts. All goods are marked with prices and quality is guaranteed. Prices may be slightly higher than at other Chinese stores but the goods are of higher quality and some items are unavailable elsewhere.Bargaining is acceptable.Travellers cheque can be changed there

But shopping is not obligatory in the tourist shop. Our guides offer shopping opportunities as a courtesy but if you're not interested, please don't feel obligated to shop. Some of the guides may be quite enthusiastic, thinking this is what you want, so don't be embarrassed to tell them directly and immediately that you don't want to go shopping. You'll often find several attendants trying to help you make a purchase. This doesn't mean you have to buy; it's OK to say no, or just to look.

Suppermarket

 Operated in a western style mode of sales, the supermarket is more and more welcomed by Chinese people for its convenience, competitive price and products, close to where people live. There are many world-famous supermarket chains in China like Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Metro, which entered the Chinese market by opening scores of branches in most of the larger Chinese cities. Domestic brands like the Home World, Trust-Mart and Renrenle are also popular among Chinese people. You are required to put your bags in the Locker Service before you start your shopping and to pay the goods you buy according to the price tag shows because bargaining is unacceptable.

Bargain Market

Bargain Markets are an ideal place to purchase some cheap and piddling articles. Almost all the Chinese cities have such places for you to fossick through things, marveling at the price. The price is flexible and you could practise your bargaining skill there. Generally speaking, the goods in the market are not as superior as in the shops or malls, but this does not exclude those which are still of high quality. Clothes, shoes, bags and food; in the bargain market you will find what your want. Because some of them are secondhand or old factory stock, carefully check the goods you purchase so as to avoid buying inferior or defective products. Rememeber to bargain with the seller to get the lowest possible price; you may get a most favorable discount.

Factory

Factory shops also sell the products they make in their own showrooms, especially those who produce a local specialty, like jade articles, porcelain, ceramics, silk, arts and crafts. If you prefer to buy some artwork at a lower price you could go directly to the factories. If you join a tourist group on your China trip, most probably the tour guide will take you to such factories as one of the attractions. Since the place is where the products are made, the merchandise is certainly genuine and you may get a very preferential price at a good discount.

Hotel store

Most of the star-rated hotels have their own shopping mall where various souvenirs and daily articles offered. Shopping at the hotel store is very convenient and saves you much time, although the goods are somewhat more expensive than those being sold in other shops outside the hotel, but the quality is good in actual.
 

Besides,some points must be paid attention to when shopping in China:

1.       Shops in China usually are open from 9:00am to 7:00pm, although others until 9:00pm. 'Night Market' may remain open until midnight or even all night during weekdays. However, times vary by season: hours are longer in summer and shorter in winter.

2.       Credit Cards including Master Card, Visa, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, Million, Federal, all are acceptable in most large Chinese department stores. However, cash is more prevalent in China. Be sure to carry sufficient small notes to facilitate buying from street vendors so they won't be required to make change for large notes.

3.       According to Chinese laws, any antiques that date before 1795, which are all cannot be legally exported.

4.       Any antiques you bought must carry a wax seal indicating that it is authentic and be stamped by the National Administration for the Preservation of Cultural Relics, or secure a license for export from China.

5.       Keep all purchase receipts, especially that of Chinese medicine herbs, antiques, gold and silver articles, jade ware and etc. They would be asked to produce by customs when leaving China.

6.       Do not buy those articles made form rare wild animals. All the contraband articles would be confiscate without compensation.

7.       Be aware that examine items carefully before buying them.

8.       Always ask for receipt. It is a valid voucher if you need to return purchases. Furthermore, China customs sometimes will require receipts to be shown when you leave China.

9.       Be cautious of forged notes when you are given change, expecially where people are bustling about.

10.   Guard against theft. Never show your wallet or big bills in the public. Keep some change available in your pocket to take out.
 

Tips for bargain

Most of the stores in China accept bargaining except in the supermarket, some chain shopping malls, or some state owned department stores where the prices of goods are fixed and the depreciation is not allowed. Don't forget to try bargaining when you shop, you may get a special price and it is possible that you will take pleasure in practicing the exciting art of bargaining. Bargaining is a little time-consuming and sometimes troublesome, and you should visit many different shops and markets to get a general idea about the reasonable average price of the things you want to buy , so remember to prepare it to the full.

First, cut down considerably from the inquired price. The shopkeeper often offers higher prices than the actual value of the goods. Try to reduce the price to half of the asking price, and then make a further negotiation.Generally spesking, the basic rules and conditions of bargaining are different in different shopping areas, so you should know them first in order to make comparisons. Then you can bargain and get a most favorable discount that will enhance your shopping experience.

Second, do not show great favorite of feeling at the things you want to buy for the seller may use this information to jack up the price. Pretent to be casual and indifferent when looking round the shops.

Third, try to find and point out the flaws as many as you can in the product. No product is completely perfect but the seller will always describe its excellence and will cover its blemishes, so you should learn to identify all the flaws in order to gain a successful bargaining. In this case, the seller may reduce his asking price. 
 

Fourth, try to examine and comparing the goods for a longer time before you give your price. And then the seller may make a compromise. 
 

Fifth, pretend to walk away. Generally, this skill works quite well in most shopping places. If the price you proposed is acceptable by the seller, usually, you will be called back again, and the goods you like will be sold at your proposed price. 
 

Sixth, do not show money of large denominations, and keep your small change separately in your pockets. Otherwise, the seller may hike the price when he discovers that you can afford the price he asks. Therefore, paying with small change is preferred.

Seventh, be full of confidence and try using Chinese as much as possible. Such as some daily used words ‘Ni Hao’(Hello!), ‘Duo Shao Qian?’ (How much?) ‘Ke Bu Ke Yi Pian Yi Dian?’(Can you give me this for much cheaper?), from which you will be benefit while communicating with the seller.

Eighth, be sure to bring a calculator to help you with conversion rates. If you make a counter offer, you should be prepared to buy the item if your offer is accepted.