Shopping in China
China is an incredible place for shopping. With China’s ancient history and culture, the variety of items available is almost unlimited. Each city, town, and village in China has its own unique culture, art, and clothing, so there is so much to choose from. Shopping can be a great deal of fun in China, but there are things to keep in mind and watch out for.
Larger department stores and supermarkets in China have fixed prices, but virtually every retailer in China does not, allowing for bargaining. Without a lot of experience, it is impossible to know what a retailer’s bottom line is, so a good rule of thumb is to bargain down to a price that you are comfortable with.
In China, credit cards are becoming more prevalent and can be used in hotels, and major restaurants, but most retailers do not accept them, so cash is a better option. Credit cards that are accepted in China include: Master Card, Visa, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, Million, and Federal.
There are a large amount of fakes on the market in China, especially with antiques, and higher-ticket items. If you wish to purchase jade or jewelry, it is highly recommended that you purchase from official shops, unless you are experienced.
Bargaining:
Bargaining is expected in China. Few places will have prices marked and those that
do often will accept bargaining. You can try to bargain wherever you may do your
shopping. You may wish to bring a calculator along with you to help you do the conversion
rates. Bargaining is expected in China, but if you do make a counter offer, and
it is met, you are expected to buy the item. Always check the item you are given
for flaws, or damage. You should also always ask for a receipt in case customs asks
for it when leaving the country. When in a tourist area, look around and ask prices
before purchasing an item. It will give you a good idea of the price ranges, and
you will know where else you can get the same product if a shop will not lower its
price to what you are willing to pay. A general rule for bargaining is to respond
with an offer half the price of what the shop keeper asks and bargain your way up
there. If they will not meet your price, a good tactic is to simply walk out of
the store. Many times they will call you back and agree to your price.
What to Buy:
Virtually every area in China has its own specialty items, especially the more famous
cities. Different cities have different local specialties. Beijing is known for
its cloisonné enamel, clay toys, and opera masks. Shanghai is known for its jade
and silk. Xian is famous for its rugs, and terracotta warrior reproductions. Guilin
is known for its traditional Chinese paintings. Suzhou and Hangzhou are famous for
their silks. Hangzhou is famous for Dragon Well Tea. Tibet is filled with unique
Buddhist art and carvings. Xinjiang is known for its rugs. Yunnan Province is known
for its Ethnic Minority art and tea. Guizhou is very well known for its Ethnic Minority
cloth, and art. These are only a small selection of the items available in China.
Antiquing:
We generally recommend that visitors do not purchase antiques in China. Most of
the items available for sale are fake, and unless you are an expert, it is very
hard to tell the difference. Common sense is a great way to deal with antique buying.
If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. If you see an imperial piece,
it is a fake. Most pieces made for, or used for the Emperor or royal families are
already in museums, and are not sold in markets. The really good pieces are not
even put out for show. Generally if an antique dealer gets a really nice item, he
calls those, who he knows collect that particular type of item, and it never goes
on display. If you do purchase a piece, predating 1912, it must have a wax seal,
which will allow it to be exported from the country. Any antique earlier than 1912
cannot be taken out of China legally.
Tel : (86)773-5833156 Toll free in USA&Canada: #1-888-254-3159
Fax : (86)773-5817771
You can e-mail us at: contact@visitourchina.com
Our mailing address:
Guilin Tianyuan International Travel Service Co., Ltd
Room 5-10, Guilin International Conference and Exhibition Shopping Park Business
Building, 26 Lijiang Road, Guilin,
Guangxi541004, China