You’re no doubt excited for your upcoming trip to China—not only to see all the incredible and unique sights of waterfalls, pandas, and impressive mega-cities like Beijing and Shanghai—but also to do some shopping for things you can’t find anywhere else in the world.
Here are some of the most popular items tourists bring back from China.
Tea
Chinese tea is a beverage made from the leaves of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) and boiled water. Tea leaves are processed using traditional Chinese methods. Chinese tea is consumed throughout the day, including during meals, as a substitute for plain water, for health, or simple pleasure.
Depending on where you shop in China, you may also be able to find teas infused with herbs or flowers to augment the flavor, though most Chinese don’t typically drink these.
Pu’er can be found easily in Yunnan province since it is native to the area. When it comes to pu’er, much like wine, the older the tea is, the better it is, so be prepared to wait for several months, even a few years, before enjoying it. Most markets will let you sample teas before purchasing them, and keep an eye out for teas in smaller towns where they likely sell local varieties.
Jade
Jade refers to an ornamental mineral, mostly known for its green varieties. It can refer to either of two different minerals: nephrite, a silicate of calcium and magnesium, or jadeite, a silicate of sodium and aluminum.
Jade is featured prominently in ancient Asian art but also has an important place in many other cultures. The beautiful greenish stone is traditionally connected to Chinese concepts of nobility, authority, beauty, and perfection, and is thought to bring luck and good health. You should try and do your jade shopping in a specialty or department store where your odds of being sold a fake piece of jade is much lower. You’ll find the greatest volume of jade objects available in northwestern China.
Chinese Calligraphy
This form of handwriting is truly an art. Chinese calligraphy goes back centuries, and you shouldn’t have a problem finding a calligraphy artist in any major city in China. Find your name, the name of a friend back home, or some esoteric concept you fancy penned in calligraphy.
Dried fruit
Travelers to Europe often return with some type of chocolate from France, Belgium, or Switzerland. China is a different story—chocolate is not appreciated the same as it is in America and Europe as it is considered unhealthy. Those with a sweet tooth in China opt instead of dried fruits which can be found in supermarkets, candy shops, and just about anywhere else you can find food sold. Surely a healthier option than chocolate, dried fruit is also easy to ship home as it won’t spoil anytime soon, and they come in many different varieties.
Chopsticks
Chopsticks have been helping people eat across East Asia for at least the last 2,000 years. Although they aren’t rare or expensive, authentic Chinese chopsticks can be found made of bamboo or wood, painted or plain, long or short, fancy or simple. Buy a pair for your friend(s) back home and get yourself a pair to keep practicing the fine art of eating with chopsticks as the Chinese do.
The mask of Beijing Opera
The opera is a huge part of Chinese entertainment, and the masks are an important part of the overall show, especially in Beijing Opera. To take some of the show homes with you, or if you think the masks would be a great addition to that blank wall, check out the souvenir stores.
They’re available in many different sizes and in a range of different color combinations depending on what you prefer.
Silk
One of China’s most famous exports is silk, and Shanghai markets will also have silks in abundance, from bedding to clothes. You can also buy silk by the meter and fashion it into whatever your heart desires back home. As the world’s largest producer of silk and the beginning of the ancient Silk Road, you can find it sold in cities from Hangzhou, to Suzhou, to Dandong, to Sichuan.
If you happen to be in Shanghai, you can procure some high-quality silk at the following shops and markets:
Chinese Cloisonne
Cloisonne products were introduced into China a long time ago, and are very popular throughout the country. You’ll find vases, beads, jewelry (especially bracelets), plates, and other trinkets readily available throughout your travels. Not all of it is of the same quality, and this is important to keep in mind when you are bargaining.
As with many things, if you’d like to get an expensive and high-quality piece, please let our tour guides know so that we can arrange for you to visit a nice store.
Chinese Knots
The Chinese art of knotting is an ancient art that produces beautiful pieces. Whether you’re looking for something small like a key chain or a bigger piece to hang up in your house, they come in all shapes and sizes. They are usually red, but there are always varieties. You’ll be able to find these at all tourist attractions’ stores or be able to buy them from vendors along the side of the road.
Chinese calligraphy
Chinese calligraphy is an art that is famous throughout the world, and pieces of intricately made art can be bought to hang up on your wall, no matter what size. Calligraphy is also available on fans, pottery, or on cloth.
There are many different styles (seal script, cursive script, running script, official script, and the formal script being some of the main ones), and you can even get your Chinese name (ask your guide what your name would be in Chinese!) painted to take home as a souvenir.
