Shopping in China

China Travel Services

In nearly all cities, your guides will take you to visit the government-run Friendship Stores as part of your tour. While they may be convenient places to see what's available locally, to look at good examples of the products and to determine what the high end of the price range is, you'll generally find better bargains elsewhere. And the Friendship Stores are about the only place you can't bargain. After your visit to the Friendship Store, visit the private or provincial stores, craft shops and local department stores. The best shopping is often at public markets. If you don't see anything as good, go back to the Friendship Store. As a rule, if you see something you want, buy it when you see it - prices don't vary greatly, but selection does. The real top-of-the-line products are often sold in Hong Kong or are exported. Be aware that stores attached to craft factories (particularly silk factories) and government-run stores in general may be selling damaged goods - examine items carefully before buying them.

Shop for carpets, wood-block prints, cloisonne, porcelain, glass items, silk, cinnabar lacquer, hand-painted snuff bottles, stone and jade carvings, books, Mao buttons, reproductions of old art (including sculptures), jewelry, patent medicines, musical instruments, embroidered linens and acupuncture and calligraphy paraphernalia. Chops (ink seals) and ink stones are also popular. Ethnic tribal crafts are available in the Kunming, Xian and Chengdu areas, and in Tibet, anything from Panchen Lama key rings and tiny clay Buddhas to prayer wheels and ornate copper inkwells can be found. If you're buying something that is or looks old, make sure it has an official red seal from the government releasing it for export. Otherwise, it may be confiscated when you depart.

In Hong Kong, shopping is a different story. You can buy virtually any consumer item. There are bargains to be had, but keep in mind that not every purchase will be a fantastic deal. To take advantage of Hong Kong, you need to do a little preparation. You should know exactly what you want before you leave home, and you should take note of what it costs at home when it's on sale. When you get to Hong Kong, don't buy unless the item is far enough below the sale price to justify shipping (or carrying) it back - and, possibly, paying import duty. Before handing over any money, make sure that everything works and that all pieces are included. If the item is a brand-name product, make sure that the manufacturer's warranty cards are all there and that serial numbers on the box match those on the product. Hong Kong merchants are not obligated by law to return or exchange items once purchased, so be very sure of what you're buying before paying; you may be able to talk a merchant into an exchange, but you'll never see your money again. Prices vary greatly from store to store, so shop around. Bargaining can be done in smaller shops in the main tourist areas, especially if prices are not marked. (To give you some idea of costs, the Hong Kong Tourist Association publishes recommended retail prices for a wide variety of goods in a number of free pamphlets, including "Shopping," "Dining & Nightlife," and "Sightseeing & Culture.") Cash will usually get you a better price than credit cards. Stores displaying the Hong Kong Tourist Association sticker are generally considered to subscribe to higher ethics and to be of greater reliability than those that don't. If you expect a store to ship your goods for you, make sure it's an HKTA member or the goods may never arrive. Be sure to keep your receipts for customs declaration when you return home. Shop for Chinese-made goods even if you're going to other parts of China, as the quality of what is sold in Hong Kong is often higher than what's sold in the Friendship Stores.

Among the better buys in Hong Kong are electronic equipment, glasses and contact lenses (take your prescription from home), gems (if you know what you're doing), silks, perfume, watches and jewelry, ceramics, Asian art, leather goods, antiques, carpets and clothing (including beautifully tailored suits and shirts). Small souvenirs include chopsticks, kung fu and acupuncture paraphernalia, tea, paper items bought in funeral shops, and cloisonne or cinnabar boxes.

A word or two about custom tailoring in Hong Kong: Much is made of the fact that a custom suit can be turned out in 24 hours. It can be, and it'll look like it. If you want clothing custom-made, give the tailor as much time as you can, go back for several fittings, and make sure there's time for alterations. Also, check the quality of the material carefully. If some tailors' prices are significantly lower than others, they're likely using a cheaper fabric (for instance, there are several grades of wool sold in Hong Kong). Some people take their own fabric and patterns (tailors may even work from photographs of the desired article). Good tailors will keep your pattern so that you can order again from home - presuming your shape hasn't changed too much.

Shopping Hours: Monday-Sunday 9 am-7 pm.