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Xian Shopping Ideas - Xian's Best Buys
Xian is not like Hong Kong, where tourists can have really easy shopping
experiences, but it has some of the best antiques shopping in mainland China. A red wax seal must be attached to any item created between 1795 and 1949 that is taken out of China; older items cannot be exported. Many hotel shops and modern department stores will ship purchases to your home, and the Friendship Store has an efficient shipping department. Furniture, old or new, in traditional Chinese styles can be purchased or custom ordered at several antiques stores; prices are high but still lower than you'd pay at home; shipping, however, can add considerably to the bill.
Xian is also known for its selection and low prices in silk, both off the bolt and in finished garments. The
Xiannese being connoisseurs of fashion and style, shops selling fashionable clothing in cotton, wool, silk, and just about any imaginable material are a dime a dozen, and prices are low. Traditional clothing such as qipao
or mandarin collar dresses, and mianao, a type of padded jackets or Zhongshan jackets, are once again fashionable purchases.
Jewelry can be a bargain, particularly jade, gold, silver, and freshwater pearls, but bargaining and a critical eye are required. Electronics, cameras, and other high-tech goods are not particularly good buys, but if you need anything replaced, you'll find a wide selection to choose from.
Among arts and crafts, there are also especially good buys in ceramics, hand-stitched embroideries, teapots, painted fans, and chopsticks. These are often sold in markets and on the sidewalks by itinerant vendors. Collectibles include Mao buttons, posters of Old
Xian (covering everything from cigarette advertisements to talcum powder), old Chinese coins, wood carvings, and screens -- all priced lowest at markets and stands. Other popular crafts made in
Xian are handbags, carpets,
lacquer ware, painted snuff bottles, and peasant paintings. Prices vary considerably. The best rule is to find something you truly like, then consider how much it is worth to you.
Designer-label sportswear and stuffed toys are abundant in department stores and street markets alike. Another popular gift is a chop (also called a seal), which is a small, stone custom-engraved stamp with your name (in English, Chinese, or both), used with an ink pad to print your "signature" on paper. Chops can be created overnight, the same day, or sometimes even while you wait. Prices depend on the stone you select and the skill of the engraver.
Xian Shopping Techniques - the Art of Bargaining in Xian
Shopping
It helps to know the going prices for items you're interested in. The Friendship Store is worth scoping out with prices in mind because it marks the high-end price for most items. Prices in hotel shops are usually your ceiling -- you should be able to beat that price elsewhere. The street markets usually have the lowest prices. There, for example, you can buy porcelain chopstick rests for ¥5 (60¢), painted fans at ¥10 ($1.20), silk shirts at ¥100 ($12), quilts at ¥150 ($18), and ecru tablecloths at ¥200 ($24).
Haggling is not done at government-run stores, most hotel stalls, and modern shops, but it is expected on the street and in small private stores. A good rule of thumb is to offer no more than a quarter of the quoted price and not to accept the first counteroffer. Try to reach a compromise (no more than half the quoted price). Walking away with a firm but polite "No" often brings about a more favorable price. Smiling through the entire exchange (whatever the outcome) helps as well, as does negotiating alone with the vendor who will never give you the best price if he/she stands to lose face in front of other prying eyes. Remember that locals are demon shoppers who scrutinize each potential purchase and exercise mountains of patience before making a buy.
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malls have been replacing
old Xian's traditional shop fronts, Chinese department stores, and
alley markets across Xian. Some of the best buys, however, can be
found in the tens of thousands of privately run shops that dot the city,
from the unique one-offs to the fly-by-night outfits. Colorful open-air
markets and street-side vendors also offer more traditional arts and
crafts, collectibles, and clothing at low prices. If you're looking for
souvenirs or Chinese treasures, check out the cost and selection at
hotel shops and modern shopping malls first; then see what's available in the streets and at markets.
Most stores are open daily from about 10am to 10pm. Weekends can be hectic days to shop.
