What is actually worth buying#
Skip the mass-produced souvenir. The things worth carrying home are the ones China makes better, cheaper or differently than anywhere else.
Tea. The single best buy in the country. Longjing from Hangzhou, Tieguanyin from Fujian, pu'er cakes from Yunnan, keemun black from Anhui. Buy from a proper tea shop where they will brew samples for you, not from a station kiosk. Expect ¥100–400 for a genuinely good 100 g of a named tea, and far more for aged pu'er.
Silk. Suzhou is the historic centre and still the best place for quality. Look for the weight and the burn test if the seller allows it; real silk smells of burnt hair and turns to ash, polyester melts into a bead.
Porcelain and ceramics. Jingdezhen in Jiangxi has made imperial porcelain for a thousand years. Even outside it, contemporary Chinese studio ceramics are excellent value.
Tea ware. Yixing clay teapots from Jiangsu, which season with use. A genuine one is ¥300+; ¥50 pots are moulded, not thrown.
Calligraphy supplies. Brushes, ink stones and paper from a specialist shop are beautiful objects regardless of whether you use them. Beijing's Liulichang street is the classic destination.
Chops (name seals). A carved stone seal with your name transliterated into Chinese, cut while you wait. ¥80–400 depending on the stone.
Silk-road textiles, in Xinjiang. Atlas silk, embroidered caps, carpets.
Tailoring. Made-to-measure in Shanghai's South Bund Fabric Market or Beijing's tailor streets: a suit in three days for a fraction of European prices. Quality varies enormously — go with a recommendation.
Electronics and phone accessories. Cheap and abundant, though the flagship phones are not meaningfully cheaper than at home. Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen is the world's largest electronics market and worth visiting as a spectacle.
How bargaining works#
Bargaining is expected in exactly three contexts: tourist markets, antique and curio streets, and with street hawkers. It is not appropriate anywhere with marked prices — shops, supermarkets, chains, restaurants, taxis, ticket offices.
The mechanics, which are ritualised and good-humoured:
- Show mild interest. Enthusiasm sets the price.
- Ask the price — 多少钱 (duō shao qián).
- Counter at around 30% of the asking price in a heavily touristed market, 50–60% elsewhere. The opening ask in Beijing's Silk Market can be ten times the real price.
- Meet in the middle across two or three rounds.
- Walk away once. This is the essential move. If the price was near the floor, you will be let go. If it was not, you will be called back — and the call-back price is the real one.
- Once you name a number, honour it. Naming a price and then not buying at it is genuinely rude.
Use a calculator or your phone to exchange numbers. It removes the language barrier entirely and is what locals do.
Where to shop#
| City | Place | For |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Panjiayuan Antique Market (weekends) | Curios, calligraphy, genuine junk and occasional treasure |
| Beijing | Liulichang | Brushes, ink, seals, art books |
| Beijing | Silk Market (Xiushui) | Tailoring and touristy goods; hard bargaining required |
| Shanghai | South Bund Fabric Market | Made-to-measure suits, shirts, coats |
| Shanghai | Tianzifang | Small design studios, prints, jewellery |
| Suzhou | Silk museum shops and Pingjiang Road | Silk, embroidery |
| Xi'an | Muslim Quarter | Spices, dried fruit, Silk Road curios |
| Chengdu | Wide & Narrow Alleys, Jinli | Sichuan crafts, tea, chilli products |
| Hangzhou | Meijiawu, Longjing villages | Tea, direct from the growers |
| Shenzhen | Huaqiangbei | Electronics, components, repairs |
| Kashgar | Sunday Bazaar | Textiles, knives, carpets, hats |
Tax refunds#
China operates a departure VAT refund scheme: purchases of ¥500 or more in a single day from a licensed refund store, taken out of the country within 90 days, qualify for an 11% rebate (net of a service fee). Ask for the refund form at the till, keep the receipt and the goods unused, and process the claim at the airport before check-in. It is worth doing on a large purchase and not worth the queue on a small one.
Customs: what you cannot take home#
- Antiques made before 1911 cannot be exported. Genuinely old items sold legally carry a red wax seal from the cultural relics bureau; without it, an item that is actually old will be confiscated.
- Ivory, rhino horn, tortoiseshell, tiger products — illegal to buy and illegal to import into essentially every country. This includes items sold openly in some markets.
- Traditional medicine containing endangered species — check the ingredients.
- Large quantities of tea or single products may attract questions on the way out and duty on the way in; check your home country's allowances.
- Counterfeit goods are confiscated by customs in the EU, UK, US and Australia, and can carry fines.
Frequently asked questions#
How do you bargain in China?#
Counter at roughly 30% of the asking price in a tourist market, negotiate up over two or three rounds, and walk away once — if the price was inflated you will be called back. Use a calculator to exchange numbers. Never bargain in shops, chains, restaurants or for taxis and tickets.
What should I buy in China?#
Tea, silk, porcelain, Yixing teapots, calligraphy supplies and a carved name seal are the classic quality buys. Made-to-measure tailoring in Shanghai is excellent value. Avoid jade and "antiques" unless you know the market.
Can I get a tax refund in China?#
Yes. Spend ¥500 or more in one day at a licensed refund store, keep the goods unused, and claim an 11% rebate at the airport before check-in within 90 days of purchase. You need the refund form issued at the till and your passport.
Can I take antiques out of China?#
Only items made after 1911, and genuinely antique pieces must carry the official red wax seal from the cultural relics authority. Anything older is prohibited from export and will be confiscated at customs.
Is shopping in China cheap?#
Everyday goods, electronics accessories, clothing and tailoring are cheap. Branded international goods are often more expensive than at home due to import duties. The best-value purchases are the things China makes distinctively — tea, silk, ceramics and tea ware.