317 Best Places to Shop in China

With a modern approach to an age-old business, a son of the Oriental Carpet Trading House family sells high-quality carpets from China, India, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan at warehouse prices.

Carrefour is the largest foreign-owned department store chain in China. The France-based giant sells everything from congee to caviar, plus there's a decent import section with all the goodies from back home. Carrefour is the best place in Chongqing to stock up on Western food and drink before a Yangtze cruise.

In the courtyard of the Confucian Temple, the Chaotian Gong Antique Market has an array of curios, from genuine antiques to fakes of varying quality. A vendor's opening price can border on the ludicrous, especially with foreign customers, but some good-natured bargaining can yield success. The market is liveliest on weekend mornings.

On either side of a nearly 4,000-foot-long pedestrian street, the stalls and shops of China Silk Town sell silk ties, pajamas, and shirts, plus silk straight off the bolt.

Nothing embodies Beijing's lusty embrace of luxury goods quite like China World Mall, which is home to a giant branch of the Hong Kong designer emporium Joyce. The average spend here must run into millions of yuan. However, for smaller budgets, there are plenty of cafés and affordable restaurants; the cinema is decent, and there's also a good ice rink for kids. The mall is open every day, from 10 am to 9:30 pm.

In addition to its contemporary gold, diamond, jade, and wedding collections for the local market, this manufacturer and retailer also sources international brands. It has more than 370 shops in China.

Jade is not the only thing you'll see from this local chain founded in 1929. It also has fine jewelry in diamond, jadeite, ruby, sapphire, emerald, 18K gold, and more-traditional pure gold. And don't worry about tracking one down; Chow Tai Fook has more than 60 Hong Kong locations.

Come evening, this sprawling market in a Hokkien neighborhood gets as busy as the popular Ladies Market in Mong Kok. It specializes in produce from China's Fujian (Hokkien) province that you won't find at many other places in Hong Kong, although you'll also find a few dry goods stalls peddling clothing, bags, and even jewelry. Because it's close to a tram terminus, local trams—"ding dings"—frequently clatter down the center of the market, adding to the bustle and color.

Constantly adding new stores, this upscale shopping has more than 100 big brand shops, including Japanese department stores Seibu and Jusco. There's also a food court on the lower level that's not a bad place to take a break over some coffee or a bowl of noodle soup. The pedestrian square outside comes alive at night, with a smattering of bars and eateries for all types.

Hong Kong--founded City Chain Co. Ltd. was Hong Kong's first watch retail chain. These days it has hundreds of shops in Asia and offers a wide selection of watches for various budgets, including ones by Ellesse, Cyma, and Armani.

An ice-skating rink and a multiplex theater are two of the reasons Cityplaza is the territory's most popular family mall—so popular, in fact, that it's best to steer clear on weekends, when you have to fight through the crowds. Toys and children's clothing labels are well represented, as are mid-range local and international adult brands. Cityplaza also has branches of Marks & Spencer (the largest in Hong Kong) and Japanese supermarket APiTa. There are also nearly 100 food outlets in the mall where you can get everything from a snack to a fancy meal. 

Hidden away in the basement of Mira Mall, this 22,000-square-foot department store makes you feel like you’re shopping in Tokyo. The brand list doesn’t cover recognizable names, focusing instead on refreshing alternatives such as Lowrys Farm, Jeanasis, and Global Work. When the hip housewares and cool clothes have worn you out, tuck into Japanese-fusion food at Tokyo-import Wired Café.

This well-known gallery represents a small batch of modern, mostly figurative Chinese artists, though it also showcases the dreamlike work of Swedish painter Dorina Mocan and dabbles in photography. Recent exhibitions have foregrounded farflung talents, such as French artist Christian Gaillard and his unique portraits of Spanish matadors. The gallery started to push out of its—and Hong Kong's—comfort zone with the opening of Connoisseur Contemporary next door in 2008; it features the often controversial creative output of the sociopolitical group referred to as the "eighties generation"—mainland Chinese emerging artists born in the 1980s under the one-child policy and known for subversive works.

Shanghai’s iconic sneaker brand, Feiyues, can get comparatively pricey when bought internationally, but in Shanghai, where they’re made, you can pick up a pair very cheaply. The classic designs are canvas with rubber soles, but there’s a variety of styles on offer, including felt models, rubber sneakers that are good for wet weather, an intricate line decorated with traditional Chinese drawings, and a cute collection for kids.

For a wide selection of all types of fabrics, from worsted wools to sensuous silks, head to this shop. It's best to buy the material here and find a tailor elsewhere, as sewing standards can be shoddy.

Longtime residents ask for popular salesman Elmen Sit when they come to Delon. He'll take you through the range carried here. Sit also demystifies various bits of equipment for novices—he'll even tell you what you don't need. Prices are good, but not amazingly cheap.

Hong Kong's first Apple Authorized Reseller is still going strong when it comes to the latest iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch products. But it's perhaps most well-known for its eye-opening range of third-party Apple accessories and gadgets, from crystal-studded phone cases to diamond-encrusted versions in real gold.

From drones and professional microphones to action cameras, the DJI shop offers everything you may need to record your adventures.

From obscure Japanese snacks and fatty wagyu beef to Japanese cosmetics and household products, Don Don Donki has it all. This Japanese chain is built like a maze, and its theme song blasts on repeat throughout the day; but if you're able to power through the overstimulation, the range of cosmetics offerings here is unmatched. From fake lashes, face masks, and makeup to curry-flavored toothpastes, there's something for everyone. Plus, this particular branch closes in the early hours of the morning, perfect for night owls who are itching for a stroll.

Prices begin at steep and climb to positively perpendicular at this boutique. A visit here is key for anyone wanting to get under the skin of the local fashion scene. Its stock reads like a who's who of rising Chinese designers, with clothes by Vega Wang, He Yan, Manchit Au, and many more.

This sprawling pedestrian plaza has large shopping centers for inexpensive knock-off name-brand watches, shoes, bags, cosmetics, and clothes, as well as plenty of smaller outdoor shops. If you're into people-watching, grab a cup of bubble tea and soak up the sights.

Watch your pockets and bags, as this place can get crowded.

A longtime cashmere manufacturer and retailer, Dorfit caters to a variety of men's, women's, and children's tastes. Knitwear here comes in pure cashmere as well as blends, so be sure to ask which is which.

For quality Tibetan handicrafts, visit Dropenling, down an alley opposite the Muslim Quarter's main mosque. Unlike those at other souvenir shops, all the products here are made by Tibetans, and all profits are returned to the local community.

Everything about Edward Chiu is fabulous, from the flamboyant way he dresses to his high-end jade jewelry. The minimalist, geometric pieces use the entire jade spectrum, from deep greens to surprising lavenders. Inspired in part by art deco, Chiu is also famous for contrasting black-and-white jade, setting it in precious metals, and adding diamond or pearl touches.

At this deep emporium of watch brands, seek the advice of one of the older staffers who look like they've been there since the British landed. Brands include Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, and Tudor.

With luxury watch collectors in mind, Elegant Watch is an authorized dealer of more than 35 top brands such as Tag Heuer, Breitling, and Franck Muller.

This upscale shopping mall is in the Kowloon West residential and commercial district, just above Kowloon's Airport Express train and check-in station. Beautifully designed, it's divided into five different zones based on the titular elements: metal, wood, water, earth, and fire. This is one-stop shopping as far as international luxury brands are concerned, with Valentino, Prada, and Gucci, just to name a few.

This bookstore spans two floors and has a good selection of English books and magazines. Lifestyle shops from small local businesses dot around the space and sell everything from jewelry to snacks. The store can be accessed at street level or via Harbour City.