China Travel Tips

Silk, tea, handicrafts, jades, calligraphies, paintings, antiques, Chinese medicine are all good items to buy from China as souvenirs. Since China is a large country, different cities are famous for their distinct souvenirs. For example, Beijing is famous for painted clay sculptures and paper-cutting, Shanghai for model of Oriental Pearl Tower, Xi’an for replicas of Terra-cotta soldiers, Suzhou for tea and Guilin for scroll paintings and China Southern Sea Pearls. In local markets or department stores, you will have more choices.

Being called “world’s factory”, China is an ideal shopping destination. You can buy goods with excellent quality and lower price, as well as local specialties and world-famous products. The following places are all worth of visiting when you travel to China: shopping street, local shopping markets, shopping malls, department stores, supermarkets, friendship stores and factories, which can be easily found in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi’an and Hong Kong.

First, you should buy Chinese antiques at large and well-known shops, especially state-owned ones. Second you should make sure that there is a wax seal in the antique, which proves that the antique is of authenticity and can be taken out of China. Third according to Chinese laws antiques produced prior to the year of 1795 are prohibited to be exported without the approval of the Ministry of Culture. Finally you should keep well the receipts and invoices for the antiques you bought because they are required by the customs when you exit from China.

It is acceptable to bargain when you shop in China, apart from places like shopping malls and department stores. Generally speaking, you can get some good things at a lower price through bargaining, so it is full of use to know some tips for bargaining when shopping in China.
 

Before shopping you should have a good idea of the common price of an item, which can be done checking prices at different shops. If you take a fancy to an article and want to buy it, and then try to pick a few flaws on it so as to get depreciation. Be insistent and friendly during the bargaining. If the sellers do not accept the price you offer, then you just walk away because in most cases they will call you back and make compromise. Generally a 50% discount can be made in many shops in China. As long as you succeed in bargaining and getting the price you want, you’d better buy the articles, or the seller would be rather angry with you for your impoliteness and discredit. Before stepping out of the shop, you should check out your articles carefully, making sure they are exactly the one you expect to buy.

China is a fantastic destination for shopping and you can buy lots of things with better price. However you should be very cautious to fake items. For instance, if the seller offers an incredibly lower price for a world-famous good, it is probably forged.

Shopping in China can be both interesting and challenging. In order to let you have an enjoyable and unforgettable shopping experience, we list some useful tips for you as follows:
• On the first days of your trip, you are encouraged not to buy anything you see since you may find better ones later in other places.
 

• Always remember to ask receipts for good you purchased.
 

• Make sure that whether the antiques you are going to buy are permitted to be exported legally or not before making a deal.
 

• Do not purchase goods made of rare wild animals, which are termed as “contraband goods” and will be confiscated.
 

• Check carefully the goods you are going to purchase before making payment.