On the territory of China, there are many giant malls, outlets, markets that occupy several quarters of large cities at once. The country has long been famous for its high quality silk and local porcelain. And nowadays, many electronics manufacturers have appeared in China that are not inferior to such world famous brands as Sony, Apple and others. Therefore, the question of what to bring from China requires a detailed study.
Among the majority of tourists, China is known as a center of cheap clothes, a source of counterfeits for popular world brands. And many travelers make their way here precisely in order to acquire such things. From this point of view, it is quite possible to agree with the statement that China has the cheapest shopping in the world. But not only consumer goods are rich in shopping centers of the country.
Most of the stores here are one-stop shops. Going into one of them, you can buy everything - from dishes to wardrobe items. Most government trade offices work from 09.30 to 20.30. Lunch breaks and weekends are often not provided. Private shops close later: at 21.00 or 22.00.
Sales in China are organized on the eve of the most important holidays:
- Chinese New Year;
- Labor Day (May 1);
- Autumn Festival (mid-September);
- Day of the formation of the People's Republic of China (October 1).
Stores also offer discounts on goods before the New Year and Christmas. There are also seasonal sales at any time of the year, when the size of the discounts varies from 70 to 90%.
What to buy in China
Once on the territory of the PRC, tourists have the opportunity to purchase a wide variety of goods: clothes and shoes, household appliances, silk products, jewelry, unique handmade souvenirs that have no analogues in the whole world. Let's discuss in more detail the question of what is worth bringing from China.
Wardrobe items and accessories
It is not recommended to buy clothes and shoes of European or American brands on the territory of the PRC. Here, these things are too expensive: twice or three times more than in the country of production. But in local markets and stores, you can find wardrobe items that are exact copies of expensive brands. But in order to acquire really high-quality copies, indistinguishable from the originals, you will have to spend a lot of time and visit more than one retail outlet.
The first thing to buy in China is locally made silk clothing. The production of natural silk in the country began about 6 thousand years ago. For millennia, the technology of production was kept secret, for the disclosure of which you could pay with your life.
The stores offer a wide range of silk pajamas, dressing gowns, scarves, blouses, dresses, bedding and other household items, including those in the national style - decorated with gold embroidery, images of tigers, dragons, and Chinese characters.
It is better to visit specialized outlets for the sale of silk products so as not to fall for a low-quality fake.
Answering the question about where to go to China for things made of natural silk, you will be called a silk factory and a silk market in Beijing. If in a retail store the average price for a robe will vary within the range of $ 100, then it will be possible to purchase it 15-20% cheaper in a factory or in a specified market.
Modern China is famous for inexpensive mink coats. Some manufacturers in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Urumqi, Guangzhou, Heihe are competitors of well-known Italian, Greek and other world famous brands of fur products.
Due to the low cost of Chinese labor, many Italian manufacturers sew fur coats in this Asian country. The average price of a mink coat in Beijing is about a thousand dollars. In Italy, a similar model costs approximately $ 3,000.
Noteworthy are the Chinese jade jewelry. In the imperial era, this stone was a symbol of absolute power bestowed on the ruler by Heaven itself. Among the most valuable varieties is dark green jade. Pendants, bracelets, earrings, brooches, necklaces made from it are the answer to the question of what gifts to bring women from China.
In order not to fall for a fake, you need to look through the stone at the light: its internal structure must be fibrous. The largest assortment of jade jewelry is presented in the Hong Kong jade market.
Chinese pearls are highly valued in the world. The PRC is one of the world leaders in terms of its production and export. Products from it are sold both in jewelry stores and in specialized pearl markets, the largest of which is located within Beijing, near the Temple of Heaven Park.
The natural mineral is heavy, and if you rub the balls together, you can hear a sound that resembles a teeth grinding. This is how pearls are distinguished from colored plastic. The average cost of a necklace is around RMB 50.
In addition to jade and pearl jewelry, in China you can buy high quality silver items: rings, pendants, chains, necklaces. The average chain price is RMB 20.
Household appliances and electronics
On the territory of the PRC, you can buy almost all types of household appliances - from sewing machines to smart watches and mobile phones. The best option is to buy products from local brands, for example:
- Xiaomi, Meizu, Huawei, Lenovo - electronics;
- Haier - home appliances;
- Gree, Midea - climatic and household appliances.
As for the technology of foreign manufacturers, including Apple (USA), Sony (Japan), Samsung (South Korea), it is better to refuse to buy it. The fact is that most often restored products are sold here, which were broken, broken, or fakes.
Answering the question about where to buy electronics in China, it should be said that it is sold in all shopping centers or in specialized markets in large cities. For example, visitors to Beijing are advised to visit a market called Buy Now, which is located in the heart of the capital.
Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
Chinese cosmetics have not yet achieved the same popularity on the international market as those made in Korea. But, according to the reviews of those who have experienced it for themselves, the quality of these funds is no worse.
Manufacturers use combinations of modern recipes with traditional ones, including natural ingredients in cosmetics: green tea, chamomile, ginseng root, seaweed, snail mucus, pearl powder, shark cartilage, whalebone, silver and gold ions.
Some of the brands worth buying are:
- Bioaqua;
- Dong Gia;
- Angel Xuewei;
- Herborist;
- Laikou;
- Doctor Li.
Cosmetics should be selected from specialized stores or pharmacies. Here you can buy shampoos, hair and face masks, whole body creams, cleansing sponges and other products.
Imported European and American cosmetics in China are prohibitively expensive. If the price tags indicate the low cost of products from YSL, Chanel and other brands, it is better to pass by, since it is 100% likely to be a local stylization similar to the original.
When wondering what medicines to bring from China, travelers primarily target local original medicines. At local pharmacies, you can buy without a prescription:
- infusion of ginseng, which increases immunity;
- deer antler powder (antlers), which strengthens the teeth and skeletal system;
- donkey skin gelatin, recommended for weakened immunity;
- snake powder, which helps to remove toxins from the body;
- magnetic rings used for weight loss.
Also, in Chinese pharmacies, it is worth buying aromatic ointments for insect bites and burns, medicinal panty liners, anti-arthritic patches, inhalation pencils, tiger balm and other general tonic.
Souvenir products
It was the Chinese who gave the whole world such material as porcelain. It began to be produced during the reign of the Han dynasty between the II and III centuries of our era.
Original sets, vases, figurines, porcelain jugs are the best souvenirs from China. The shop windows display hand-painted items decorated with gilded ornaments.
The average price of a small figurine is 10-15 yuan, a coffee pair is 11 thousand yuan, a service for four persons is 38 thousand yuan.
The integral elements of Chinese culture are colorful fans - lace, paper, silk, sandalwood, decorated with floral ornaments and images of hieroglyphs. Such a fashionable accessory will appeal to any lady.
Also worthy of attention are Chinese sun umbrellas, which, according to legend, were invented by Emperor Shun more than 3.5 millennia ago.
You can bring a sample of Chinese painting or calligraphy as a keepsake or as a gift to a loved one.
If time permits, you can make an individual order from a Chinese master who will write an original landscape or create a composition with a hieroglyphic tracing of the name of the person to whom it will be presented.
You can buy ready-made sets for painting in Chinese technique, which include special brushes, paper, ink.
Many travelers bring handicrafts from the PRC made of deer antlers, bamboo, wood, and clay. These are figurines of animals, gods, household items.
If we talk about what to buy for a child in China, we should mention talismans and amulets made of peach trees, peach seeds, ash branches, brass and silver locks, pendants with symbols of the zodiac signs. Such amulets can be found both in souvenir shops and on street stalls in any city.
Food
Tea is considered to be one of the most popular gifts from China. The most aromatic varieties with a rich flavor palette are Puer, Sihu-Longjing, Tocha, Dianhong, Baihao, and Maofeng.
When asked where it is better to buy tea in Shanghai, Beijing or some other Chinese city, the answer will be the same: it is better to visit specialized tea shops or pharmacies that sell traditional medicine.
A valuable Chinese drink is vodka called "Yao Tszyu". The composition of alcohol includes ginseng root, gou qi tzu berries, ling-zhi mushrooms. A 0.5 liter bottle costs about 6 yuan, and if the drink is infused with snakes and ants, then about 40 yuan. You can buy such vodka both in factory containers and on tap.
Chinese rice vodka from Guizhou province is also popular. Men will also be interested in local beer: Qingdao, Harbin (light and light), Reeb Dark Beer (dark).
Among the interesting gastronomic souvenirs from China is the muer black tree mushroom. It is sold dried, used in cooking when preparing hot dishes, salads, snacks. Has a scent reminiscent of smoke.
It is worth bringing spices from China: Sichuan pepper and chili, star anise, licorice (licorice), red barberry, cloves, ginger.
No less popular gastronomic gifts from China are soy sauce, tofu, bean paste, rice noodles and coconut sugar, which is less harmful than cane sugar.
Chinese fruits will be a useful gift: first of all, papaya, mango, dragon fruit. Many fruits are supplied to markets from the southernmost urban district of Sanya, located on the island of Hainan. If you are in doubt about how to bring fruits from China, fearing that they will not be preserved fresh, give preference to candied or dried ones.
What else can you bring from China
You can please yourself, family and friends with such gifts from China:
- unique fabrics (for example, a cotton cloth called nanka);
- interesting toys for children - kites, construction sets, musical, interactive games and so on;
- antiques and antiques;
- pictures embroidered with human hair;
- Chinese tapestries;
- books in foreign languages.
Among the frequently purchased items are paraphernalia of tea ceremonies, Chinese sticks, bowls and food rugs.
Consider which shopping locations and in which cities foreigners should visit first.
Beijing
The capital of China is the state leader in terms of the number of large shopping centers, markets, shops. Among the largest shopping centers in the city are Oriental Plaza Mall, 3d3 Mall, Ginza Mall, New Yansha Mall, Shin Kong Place and others.
You can shop in Beijing at the markets. In addition to the pearl and silk mentioned above, guests of the Chinese capital should visit the Yabalou market, where you can find everything - from cheap consumer goods to high-quality fur coats.
Among the famous Beijing shopping streets are Wangfujing, Xidan, Lyulichan. On the first one there are large supermarkets "Shilu", "Xindong'an", "Laofule", on the second - supermarkets "Zhongyu" and "Site", as well as the Xidan market, on the third - a large number of antique shops and second-hand bookshops.
Shanghai
The main shopping streets of this city are:
- Nanjing, which has over 600 retail outlets;
- Northern Sichuan, where the cheapest stores in China are located;
- Huanghai, which is famous for its designer boutiques;
- Middle Tibetan, where there are many retail outlets with a democratic pricing policy.
The largest Shanghai shopping centers are Nextage Department Store (the second largest in the world after New York Macy's), Metro City, Shanghai No. 1 Department Store, Plaza 66, Raffles City Shanghai and others.
Popular are:
- Yuyuan antiques and souvenir market;
- clothing markets Fuzhuang and Jinan Yatai;
- Tianshan Tea City Tea Market;
- jewelry market First Asia Jewelry Plaza;
- pearl market Sunshine;
- silk market in Shanghai.
Hong Kong
This city is famous for some of the largest and most impressive shopping centers in the world. Among them are Discovery Park, Pacific Place, Harbor City, Landmark, SkyPlaza, SkyMart.
The best local markets are:
- ladies', where, contrary to the name, you can buy things for both men and children as well;
- the Temple Street Night Market, which sells mainly appliances, electronics and men's products;
- the flea market on Cat Street, where you can find antiques;
- "Gallery of Gold Trade", which sells household appliances.
In local markets, many vendors are fluent in English and even Russian. If you bargain, you can reduce the price of the commodity item you are interested in by up to 25%.
Guangzhou
The largest shopping area in Gongzhou is the Beijing Road Shopping District. Within its boundaries there are up to 10 large shopping centers and over 100 stores of various specializations.
There are many retail outlets on Shangxiajiu and Zhuangyuan Fang Streets.
Hualin Jadeware Street is a jewelery lover's paradise.
Guangzhou is famous among tourists for its shopping centers: China Plaza, Guangzhou Nangfang, Tianhe Teemall, Taikoo Hui, Grandview Mall.
For those who come for shopping, it will not hurt to visit the clothing markets:
- "Ball";
- Tian Ma (Heavenly Horse);
- Bai Ma (White Horse);
- Jin Ma (Golden Horse). He specializes in the sale of fur products.
Prices in the Chinese market "Golden Horse" are low, as well as the quality of the bulk of the goods. Therefore, when purchasing a fur coat, you should carefully inspect it on the spot.
Macau
This city is known as "China's Las Vegas". Local shopping centers amaze with the richness of the assortment: City of Dreams, The Grand Canal Shoppes, Fortune Diamond, Rua do Cunha and others. The prices in their stores are several times lower than, for example, in Beijing and Hong Kong.
Lovers of sweets are advised to visit the Red Market. Here you can find traditional Chinese sweets, exotic fruits.
Interesting vintage accessories and antiques can be found at the flea market near the ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral.
The Rua De Tercena market has a large number of catering establishments where you can taste delicious national dishes: rice in lotus, rice cakes, starch cakes and much more.
Hainan
The main trading regions of Hainan Island are the cities of Haikou and Sanya. Most of the retail outlets in Haikou are located along Haixudonglu Street, in Sanya - in the Jiefanglu Street area.
Tourists vacationing in Haikou most often visit the shopping centers "Nanya Plaza", "Dongfang Oriental Plaza", "Mingmen Plaza", "Shenshen".
In Sanya, the popular shopping centers "Tyandu", "Ifan", "Minju". The largest markets in Hainan are the First Market, Hungan, Hongshi located in Sanya. Special attention should be paid to the fish market (Sanya city), which has the lowest prices for seafood.
Taiwan
A wide range of goods for every taste is presented in the shopping centers of the island of Taiwan: Taipei City Mall (Taipei city), Dream Mall (Kaohsiung city), Xiang Jiao Xin Le Yuan and Taroko Mall (Taijun city) and others ...
A special feature of Taiwanese shopping is the opportunity to visit the night markets:
"Shilin" in Taipei, where you can also taste the fried snake;
Liu He in Kaohsiung, where you can find both clothes and souvenirs and food;
Lodun in Ilan, famous for its cheap food.
Answering the question of what to buy in Taiwan, we note that the most popular products here are jade crafts, coral and aragonite jewelry, silk products, patterned masks and fans, ceramic dishes with images in island style, exotic oils, snake tincture, local teas.
What and in what quantity can be exported from China
Customs regulations in the PRC are quite loyal to foreigners. You can export without restrictions:
- silk products;
- local teas;
- jewelry that is not jewelry (that is, costume jewelry);
- wardrobe items;
- fruits, spices, sweets and other food products (provided that they are in intact packaging);
- packaged souvenirs;
- traditional medicine.
But tourists should be aware of the customs regulations governing the importation of certain goods from abroad into their country. For example, if the export of alcohol and tobacco products from China is not strictly regulated, then no more than 3 liters of alcoholic beverages and up to 200 cigarettes (or up to 250 g of tobacco, or up to 50 cigars) can be imported into Russia without paying a duty.
It is noteworthy that China has restrictions on the export of currency. More than 6 thousand yuan cannot be exported from the country.
In China, there is a scheme for refunding VAT to foreigners - Tax Free. The purchase amount for a refund must be at least RMB 500. The refund will be 11% of the check value, but 2% will be withheld for processing the payment.
Output
Shopping in cities in China is much more fun than shopping online on AliExpress. Silk products, pearls, jade jewelry, porcelain dishes, souvenirs made in national style, exotic food - this is not a complete list of what travelers go to this country for.
It is best to come to the PRC on the eve of public holidays. It is on these days that the biggest discounts are offered in retail outlets, so it will be profitable to shop.
To save money, it is recommended to bargain in the markets. Sellers make concessions and cut prices sometimes even by 25% of the original.
China is distinguished by customs regulations loyal to foreigners. Most of the goods of interest to tourists can be exported without restrictions. The main thing in this case is to take into account the rules for importing products into the territory of your state.
