317 Best Places to Shop in China

This is where local photographers come for their equipment. Expect good prices on new cameras, lenses, and accessories. While you're here, pump the regular customers for insider tips.

If you've always wanted to have shoes made just for you, this traditional cobbler is highly rated by Beijing expats. If you're in the city at least two weeks—you can have a pair of shoes or boots made for very reasonable prices. Bring in a photo or a pair that you wish to copy, as the cobbler doesn't speak much English.

It's a one-of-a-kind source for vintage posters (mainly with travel and movie themes), early photography of Hong Kong and elsewhere in China, antique maps, prints and engravings, antiquarian books, and limited-edition reproductions or works by artists such as Dong Kingman. You might imagine a dusty library, but Christopher Bailey's welcoming gallery is spacious, bright, and organized. In recent years, Bailey's offerings have shifted toward contemporary photography featuring exhibitions from the likes of William Furniss, Anton Lyalin, and National Geographic's Matthieu Paley. He has a second shop in the Prince's Building on Chater Road.

Shopping-wise you'll find all the usual suspects here—Zara, JNBY, et al.—even if a lack of good dining spots ensures that you won't linger too long. However, visitors largely flock to The Place to witness its eye-wateringly gigantic LED screen, which bursts into life every hour in the evenings and shows some pretty stunning minimovies (the meteorites are the best!) before lapsing back into screensavers and commercials.

In the heart of an up-and-coming cultural district down in Aberdeen, this spacious industrial-chic loft-style gallery displays groundbreaking contemporary Chinese art alongside ancient Asian textiles and rugs. To get the most out of it, ask the refreshingly knowledgeable staff to escort you around.

Specializing in strung pearls from Australia and the South Seas, Po Kwong will add clasps to your specifications. They also carry pearl earrings, rings, and pendants.

As its name suggests, Practical Tailor is a refreshing change of pace from some of the stuffy and overpriced heavyweights just down the street. Popular among westerners and young professionals, the Shanghainese outfit is run by friendly and attentive co-owners Andy Shum and Jason Chan, who ensure every suit comes fully canvassed and hand stitched, inside and out. Depending on the quality of fabric—Inner Mongolia cashmere and silk from Ermenegildo Zegna will obviously run up the price—men's suits range from roughly HK$5,000 to HK$12,000.

Local maker Prestige does fashion-forward, acceptable-quality, reasonably priced shoes that will take wearers to work or around town. It's conveniently located in the Island Beverley mall, where you can buy an equally stylish and affordable outfit to match your new shoes.

This shop carries timepieces made by more than 60 international brands, including Omega, Chopard, Breguet, and IWC. There's other jewelry on sale as well, which may entertain those accompanying the avid watch shopper.

With ancient Chinese culture for inspiration and In the Mood for Love actress Maggie Cheung as the muse, something extraordinary was bound to come from Qeelin, whose name is cleverly derived from the Chinese mythical animal and icon of love. Classic gold, platinum, and diamonds are mixed with colored jades, black diamonds, and unusual materials for truly unique effects. The meaningful creations of designer Dennis Chan are exemplified in the signature collection: Wulu, a minimalist form representing the mythical gourd as well as the lucky number eight. The IFC Mall store is one of five in Hong Kong.

The city's largest antiques shop is the Qingdao Arts and Crafts Store, with four floors of porcelain, scroll paintings, silk, gold, jade, and other stones.

Locally based Rabeanco has a reasonably priced line of beautiful, quality bags in Italian leather. Expect designs that are contemporary and colorful, but never flashy or absurd. 

In this cramped-but-charming Sanlitun showroom, the fashion diva Gu Lin designs embroidered satin qipaos, cropped jackets, and men's clothing for stylish foreigners and China's xin xin ren lei (literally the "new, new human being," referring to the country's latest flock of successful young professionals).

Many a quirky Hong Kong street-wear trend is born in this fabulous micromall. Don't let its grubby exterior put you off: the arcade is a haven of Asian cool. Japanese designers are particularly well represented. Handmade shoes and oversize retro jewelry are other fixtures, all at bargain prices.

Don't let the gray-brick and red-trim exterior fool you: The three stories of offices inside the Ritan Building are strung with racks of brand-name dresses and funky-fab accessories. Unlike the tacky variations made on knockoff labels and sold in less expensive markets, the collections here, for the most part, retain their integrity—perhaps because many of these dresses are actually designer labels. They're also more expensive, and bargaining is discouraged. The Ruby Cashmere Shop (No. 1009) sells genuine cashmere sweaters and scarves at reduced prices, while Fandini (No. 1011) carries a modern selection of typically "street" clothing for men and women.

Looking at the rocks in these windows can feel like a visit to a natural history museum. Large white- and rare-color diamonds sourced from all over the world are a specialty here, but the shop also deals in emeralds, sapphires, and rubies. With years of expertise, Abrams dispenses advice on both the aesthetic merits and the investment potential of each stone or piece of jewelry.

The fuchsia-pink signs that announce Hong Kong's best and largest cosmetic discounter will become familiar sights on any shopping expedition. Look for deals on everything from cheap glittery makeup to sleek designer lines. Fragrances are a particularly good buy; prices are usually even lower than those at airport duty-free shops.

It's a local institution, a bookstore, and a cat sanctuary, all rolled into one. This longstanding shop in the basement of an unassuming mall has a vast range of mostly Chinese books and foreign-language tomes that span Japanese manga and Nordic thrillers, among which a collection of rescued felines sprawl. While you're free to browse the books, don't touch the cats—the owner is adamant that this isn't a petting zoo. 

A veteran of this area, Sam Wo sells fashion-inspired leather bags at low prices and without the branding. You'll need a keen eye to spot the must-haves amid all the must-nots. See neighboring stalls for closer interpretations of branded bags.

Aussie boutique Sambag touched down in Hong Kong in 2013, bringing its quality leather kicks and colorful summer accessories with it. Find strappy sandals and quality ballet flats in every hue (they’re priced at around HK$1,000 per pair), along with beachy cover-ups, floppy hats, and totes of all sizes.

When shopping along Lao Jie, the best offerings are traditional calligraphy ink and paper. The best ink stones are sold at Sanbai Yanzhai.

You might be wary of the lustrous pearls hanging at this little Jade Market stall. But the charming owner does, in fact, sell genuine cultured and freshwater pearl necklaces and earrings at reasonable prices. Some pieces are made from shell, which Sandra is always quick to point out, and could pass muster among the snobbiest collectors.

A longtime figure on the art scene, Sandra Walters represents a stable of Asian and international artists encompassing a variety of periods and styles. Make an appointment with her or one of her team to advise you on small to significant investments.

Born in 1915, Mr. Leung Yau Kam is Hong Kong's oldest lantern maker, and he has refused to move his workshop across the border like all the others. These intricate, handmade works in paper take fantastical forms such as bright-orange goldfish. Their role has changed over his long career from functional to purely decorative, but lanterns are still important in Chinese society. This is especially true during the Mid-Autumn Festival, when children carry their special lanterns outdoors to view the full moon. If you can speak Cantonese—or have mastered charades—ask for one that can pack flat.

If you're staying at one of the business hotels in Beijing's Financial Street area, this ritzy mall can fulfill any international luxury-brand needs you may have. Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Versace are here, as is the Beijing branch of Hong Kong's fab department store, Lane Crawford.

Almost more museum than shop, this Sheung Wan vintage store is packed from floor to ceiling with nostalgic Hong Kong ephemera. Dig through old toys, books, vinyl records, faded posters, watches, jewelry, retro lighting, furniture, and more to find something irreverent to take back home.

This cluster of small antiques shops is huddled around an attractive courtyard. Jade, jewelry, and regional antiques are beautifully displayed; expect to bargain for prices.

You could while away an hour or two in this massive bookstore, which has a huge selection of English-language books for children and adults. The downside here is that there's so much, it's not always organized well, and few of the clerks speak English. Still, wander the floors, and you'll find new and back issues of magazines ranging from Vogue to NationalGeographic, and shelf upon shelf of novels and nonfiction books. Prices are higher than what you'd pay in the States but not terribly so.

This selection of books on China and Chinese culture is impressive, and there are also some interesting children's books. Expensive reproduction ceramics are available, as are more affordable gifts like magnets, scarves, and notebooks.

This is one of China's leading fashion brands, with distinctive acid-bright silks, soft-as-a-baby's-bottom cashmere, and funky housewares. Sigh at the beautiful fabrics and designs, and gasp at the inflated prices.