Best Chinese purchase?
 

I'm leaving for China at the end of Oct. I'm coming from the US. With soooo many things 'made in China' in my country, what are some 'must have' purchases/souviners that I wouldn't find (at least easily) here at home?

unusual pottery items...

decorative boxes

fabrics

knock off items like designer purses, shirts, and almost anything you can imagine

stamps with your initials carved in chinese

A chinese painting painted to order.

I purchased a traditional inkstone (the stone on which the ink is mixed for calligraphy) a number of years ago, a lovely and unique item. I also bought calligraphy brushes, lovely handmade Xixing teapots, Dragon pearl jasmine tea, and small jade carvings.

It seems increasingly difficult to purchase authentic crafts items in much of China. But they are well worth seeking out.

Kathie:

We also have China in our plans next spring. Do you remember where you got the teapots?

Aloha!

I purchased teapots at the teahouse in the middle of the artificial lake at the orchid garden in Guangzhou... the best assortment of exquisite pots by a renowned potter (whose name I now forget) I saw anywhere. This was 10+ years ago. I also purchased some lovely pots in Hong Kong a couple of years ago... there is a tea museum in the lovely park next to the Island Shangri-La that had some nice ones; I bought one for my friend who takes care of my darling cat while I'm away at Ying Kee (where I also bought lots of Dragon Pearl Jasmine tea) and I purchased several at the department store on the Kowloon side (whose name currently slips my mind) that were less than half price as they were left from a huge exhibition and sale of Xixing teapots.

Happy shopping!

Eggshell porcelaine Chinese teacups, jade/intricate chopsticks. You can find these in the US but they are much much cheaper in China - beautiful "pashmina" shawls at about $4 each and turqiose and jade. The Lijiang area with the many hilltribes was where I shopped the last time. They also had clothing made from hemp, shawls, skirts etc.

Cotton fabric with small white flowers on dark blue background, 1/10 of the price in the US, had a tailor there make them into seat covers for our living room furniture.

HItraveler: Hangzhou is the tea growing centre of China, lots of teapots, other places are Wuxi and Suzhou.

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! I look so forward to shopping, now that I have a list!

Thanks Kathie and Shanghai.....It will be the hunt for the perfect teapot, lol

Aloha!

I would agree the "chops" (stamps) are wonderful.
M

Also jade carvings (I have a beautiful dragon), cloisonne, silk scarves. I would add jasmine tea (to go with the teapot), but I doubt you can bring it through U.S. customs.

You certainly can bring tea through customs. I have done so many times. Buy the best quality tea you can. My favorite is the jasmine pearl tea.

Oh, yes, brought lots of great teas back - no problema en SFO or BJX.
M

...ok, novice Chinese buyer here...I love all the ideas, but what are stamps/chops? Are these chopsticks?

no, a chop is a carved stone piece that is inked and leaves an inked image on a piece of paper. These can be done with your name in Chinese characters or with a wide variety of "stock" designs.

For tea, I have bought high quality green tea and dried flower buds separately, such as jasmine, rose and mums. It's fun mixing the flower buds with the tea, or just the buds themselves, use a heat resistant glass tumbler or tea pot and watch the couple of mum buds unfold in hot water!

Yes, jasmine tea bought here, even in Asian stores, doesn't seem the same. Anyone know where I could mail order peony tea?

Where are you located, thursdays?

Hi Kathie - I'm in Cary, Research Triangle area of North Carolina

Kathie, thanks so much for the explanation of the 'chops'; that is an item I will certainly seek out...and with Christmas right around the corner, what a wonderful gift idea!

Thursdays, sorry I can't help you with tea shops in that area. I'll check to see whether my local tea shop does mail order. Even though I love buying tea in Asia, I must admit I can do as well in Seattle.

Thanks Kathie (apologies for hijacking your thread, Faloola). We have a good Indian grocery store, a big Pan-Asian store (mostly Chinese) and I even found a Vietnamese store in N.Raleigh where I could buy Vietnamese coffee and the little metal gizmo for making it, but I'm striking out on tea. Whole Foods has something that might be good, but they're asking a ridiculous price for it.

What about the "3 wise men?" I bought mine in Tsimshatshui (sp?) an emporium in Kowloon. Made fr camel bone? porcelain anyway. Came with a stand as well. You can find them in China - just make sure they're well pack - best to carry as hand luggage. In HK it's pronounced "fook, look, soo" but slighly different in Mandarin

Oh! just remembered - bought a long nose teapot in Beijing. It's amusing watching them pour tea fr a distance!
I highly recommend that! I use it as a decorative ornament as I haven't mastered the art of pouring tea fr a distance! It comes in bronze/copper which needs polishing now & again.

Thursdaysd: Have you checked Southern Season? With their goods from all over the world, they may have some types of tea you're looking for. I'm sure there's a cost premium, but you wouldn't have to pay shipping charges.

ellen: good thought. Nothing on their website, but I'll take a look at the store next time I'm in Chapel Hill.