Services

There are many exotic and unusual things to buy in China which make wonderful souvenirs and gifts for relatives and friends back home. The following is part of the amazing range of goods available.

Silk

China is famous all over the world for its silk. As such, specialized stores and markets will offer you an amazing choice of colors, textures and patterns. If you like to shop around and have time on your hands, go to a fabric market or a century-old store and choose yourself some pieces of silk among hundreds of rolls. Then head to a tailor to make the scarf, the shirt or the dress your friend or mother always dreamed of. Custom-made clothing is one of the perks of life in Beijing. Don't miss out on the opportunity. However, if you're in a hurry, there are still plenty of options. Ready-made qipao (traditional Chinese dress), silk cushion covers, bedspreads, scarves or brocades are very nice gifts as well.

Antiques

If you're an antique enthusiast, China is the place for you! Fascinating antique and curio shops and market stalls are to be found in most cities. Care is needed, however, when buying expensive items to ensure, for example, that the item carries the official red seal of the shop and the sale documents are in order.

Arts and crafts

Cloisonné made in Jingdezhen in Jiangxi, embroidery from Suzhou and batik from Guizhou and Yunnan are all highly recommended.

And so are the "Four Treasures of the Study" - namely, brush, ink, inkstone, and paper. They play an important part in Chinese culture. You may want a set to give as a unique gift to your friends. The best writing materials are said to be Xuan paper and Hui ink sticks from Anhui, Duan inkstone from Guangdong and Hu writing brush from Zhejiang.

Of course jade items will also make a beautiful gift. Jade is regarded by the Chinese as a stone descended from heaven. It is extremely difficult to carve but China's craftsmen create incredibly delicate ornaments and jewelry with it.

If you still haven't found the perfect souvenir, a traditional kite, a piece of papercut or a seal carved with your friend's name might do the trick.

Pearls

Chinese were the first to experiment with cultured pearls. Black pearls, white pearls, earings, necklaces or any other piece of jewellery using pearls, you will find it all in specialized shops or markets in China.

To know whether you're dealing with fake cultured pearls, meaning glass or plastic coated with a pearly substance, rub two pearls together. It's said that the real deal should feel a bit gritty whereas fakes usually feel smooth.

If you can't find the design you like, don't hesitate to share your ideas with a shop assistant. She will happily and quickly make a piece according to your requirements.

Traditional Chinese medicine

The use of traditional herbs and potions lies at the core of traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM. We don't always know why or how it works, but many treatments are more effective than Western medicine. Tonics made from herbs are very popular. Examples of the materials used in the preparation of medicines and tonics are ginseng, rhubarb horse-tails, bezoars, angelica, Tianqi, licorice root, apricot kernel and the root of balloon flower. If one of your friends is interested in alternative medicine, why not bring him or her an authentic Chinese herbal preparation! Tongrentang, a famous time-honored brand in China, is one of the best places for buying Chinese medicine.

Where to find gifts and souvenirs?

Beijing

Panjiayuan Antique and Flea Market

West of Panjiayuan Bridge

Chaoyang District

Hongqiao Pearl Market

46 Tiantan Donglu

Chongwen District

Muxiyuan Fabric Market

Haihutun Area

South of Muxiyuan Bridge

Nansanhuan Lu