Hohhot Shopping, Specialties, Handicrafts, Daily Articles

Hohhot displays special local products from all over Inner Mongolia. These products can be bought at both fair and market, whilst special products can be bought from shopping centers. If you are interested in handicrafts such as calligraphy, chinaware, jade ware, bamboo, and woodcarvings, Inner Mongolia Antique Shop on Xilin North Road may give you some surprises.

As early as in Yuan Dynasty, Mongolian have been famous for their use of silverwares. Silverwares include bowl, knife, pot and wine vessel. The silverware is finely crafted, vivid in color and traditional ethnic designs. The Mongolian bowl is a jewel among them.

Inner Mongolian carpet is made of local wool, colored with mineral and plant biased dyes and hand woven. The main categories include natural-colored, archaized, Han Dynasty, and artistic tapestry. In addition, there are various cushions.

Cashmere is a rare raw material for textile. Cashmere from Inner Mongolia is world famous. So is camel hair, which can be made into woolen cloth and carpet.

Mongolian knife is a daily article and a status symbol as well. All will look down on a man without his knife. The blade is made of steel while the handle is made of ox horn and red wood. The Camel-shaped Mongolian knife is particularly worth mentioning. The camel body is made of redwood or birch while the handle is made from ox horn and camel bone. However, before your purchase any knife, consult with your airline as to whether knife is allowed packed in your luggage.

Mongolian women learn embroidery at an early age. At about 10, girls learn to make socks and pouches. In contrast to other famous embroideries in China, the Mongolian embroidery is made on woolen felt and leather boots as well as soft materials. The Mongolian embroidery distinguishes itself by its dignified and unimposing style·Şlarge area of appliqu¨¦ and vivid color contrast.

Ox horn handicrafts are roughly divided into three categories: wall-decoration, ornaments and accessories. Altogether there are more than 100 types of products such as animals, bottles and cups, necklaces, rings, earrings, hairclips, belt and calligraphy series.

Ancient nomads used ox horn to hold alcohol when they made an alliance. This ox horn is called alliance cup. A pair of ox horns is polished and then cups made of silver or copper are set into the horns. The ends are decorated with a metal flower pattern, silk knots, and fringes.

Mongolian men usually wear a refined snuff bottle on the left side of their belt. Snuff bottles are usually made of jade, emerald, agate, amber, tortoise, or fine porcelain. Both lid and bottle rims are plated with gold or silver, beset with ruby and corals. Connected to the lid is a small spoon made of bone. When two men meet, they will put their snuff bottle on the hand as a gift after greeting.

Birch handicrafts include boxes, cases, pail, bow and basins with ethnic patterns.

Milk tea pot is made of copper or silver. In the center of the silver pot is a dragon dotted with lotus or other flowers. The pot is a harmonious combination of art and design.

Oleaster, or Russian olive, is a popular fruit among children and women. In the Qing Dynasty, this fruit was a symbol of friendship; today, people still treat guests with it. Local children will pick the blossom for rare guests to enjoy the fragrance of the Oleaster flowers and then give you a brownish-red stick as rolling pin. The locals cluster bunches of Oleaster into a screen, an original decoration.

Glossy Ganoderma is a rare herb good for the immune system. It is very precious because as it cannot be cultivated. Jew's ear is tonic and delicious. It can be cultivated manually. Sunflower seeds grown in Inner Mongolia are famous all over China owing to their size and taste.

Hotan honeydew melon is a treasure in melons. It has the tastes of pear, apple, peach and banana, sweet and fragrant.