Shopping  --  Where to Buy :

From the roadside stall to the large-scale modern shopping mall, from the common store to a popular supermarket, China has numerous perfect places to shop that can satisfy all shoppers' desires.

Department Stores

Shopping in China is easy and convenient, as various department stores are commonly found, especially in the high street. The level and scale of these shops vary, depending on the city and the area.Various items for daily use, which are much cheaper, are often offered in the smaller and more ordinary roadside shops or boutiques. Whenever you need something like everyday necessities, snacks or even clothes, you can immediately go there for your favorite things. Don't forget to try bargaining: you may get a special price.

Shopping Mall

In the busy streets of the downtown area, usually in the shopping center of a city, there are large-scale and high-class emporiums, in which not only the domestic brands but also many well-known international brands are all sold. Everyday items, cosmetics, household appliances, bedding, clothes, and everything up-market that you wish for can be found easily to satisfy your every need. Bargaining is seldom acceptable, but there are often special promotions or end-of-season sales with an attractive price.

Business Street

Most large and distinctive Chinese cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, feature special business streets, where local products are on sale. Merchandise of the same kind is usually sold in the same street, which makes shopping easy and saves you time. The Hongqiao Market in Beijing, also known as the ‘Pearl Market', especially attracts female overseas tourists and mainly sells pearl jewellery, while Silver Street, where many boutiques are located, always tempt the youth by its modern fashion. You may also find various characteristic streets selling the four treasured tools of studying (writing brush, ink, inkstone and paper), painting and calligraphy, handicraft, silk and embroidery, jade articles, crockery, furnishings, musical instruments, boutiques, even flowers, as well as grocery streets or food streets. Some of the business streets are pedestrian malls, where tourists can relax and shop at their leisure.

Supermarket

The western-style mode of sales operation, the supermarket, is becoming more and more popular in China for its convenience, competitive price and products, close to where people live. Everything you want for daily use can be found easily here. Many world-famous supermarket chains like Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Metro entered the Chinese market by opening scores of branches in most of the larger Chinese cities. Domestic brands like the Home World, Trust-Mart and Renrenle are also popular among Chinese people. You have to pay what the price tag shows since bargaining is unacceptable. Make sure your bags are stored in the Locker Service before you start your shopping.

Bargain Market

If you want to buy something cheap and nice at a much lower price, the bargain market is your best choice. Almost all the Chinese cities have such places for you to fossick through things, marveling at the price. Generally the goods here are not as superior as in the shops or malls, but this does not rule out those which are still of high quality. Clothes, shoes, bags, commodities, and food; in the bargain market you will find all your desires. As some of them are secondhand or old factory stock, carefully check the goods you purchase so as to avoid buying inferior or defective products. Rememeber to bargain with the seller to get the lowest possible price; you may get a most favorable discount.

Factory Shop

Factory shops also sell the products they make in their own showrooms, especially those who produce a local specialty, like jade articles, porcelain, ceramics, silk, arts and crafts. If you join a tourist group on your China trip, most probably the tour guide will take you to such factories as one of the attractions. Since the place is where the products are made, the merchandise is certainly genuine and you may get a very preferential price at a good discount.

Hotel Store

As one of the supporting facilities for their guests, a store is often located in most star-rated hotels. Actually goods are somewhat more expensive than those being sold in other shops outside the hotel, but the quality is good. Food, articles for everyday use and especially local souvenirs are commonly on sale here. Shopping at the hotel store is very convenient and saves you much time.

Shopping Online

As the new-fashioned way to shop, online-shopping is now gradually being accepted. Since it is not time-consuming, but easy and convenient, some young people like to shop online. Shoppers can buy with ease simply in front of their own internet connected computers. The price is also competitive compared with that in the shops. The well-known Chinese online-shopping websites like Sohu, Sina, Netease, Ebay, Joyo and Dangdang offer you a normal and legal online trading platform. Payment security is the shoppers' worst worry, so online shopping is not so highly recommended. If you insist on buying online, do verify the selllers' authenticity and prestige and be cautious of the whole process.

Please refer to our China Guide for shopping information in each Chinese city where you can get more detail.