Shopping in China is both an interesting thing and a challenge.

When you are going to buy, the first thing, also an important thing, is decide where to buy. We believe that a good beginning is half the battle.In Chinese cities, there are friendship stores that are designated to provide services to foreign visitors. These carry the sort of luxury goods: silks, jewelry of gold, silver, pearls, jade, embroidered tablecloths and blouses, paintings, four treasures of the study (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper), handicrafts and pottery. At hotels entrusted to receive foreign visitors, there are also shopping centers.

In addition, foreign visitors are free to do shopping at any other shops. It was unusual to bargain in the state-run shops and warehouses. But at many souvenir stands, it is a good idea to bargain because of the greatly overpriced goods on offer. It is also worth comparing prices in the free market and watching how much Chinese customers pay.

It is worth looking for local products in the smaller towns or in the places where ethnic minorities live. These products will be difficult to find anywhere else in China. The most usual articles are craft objects for everyday use and specially worked or embroidered garments.

Once you have fixed a place for you shopping, the second step centers on the price. If the price offered is reasonable and acceptable, you could buy it directly. If not, bargaining is needed to beat down the price.

Besides,some points for attention should be remembered when shopping in China:

1. Do not buy any antiques that date before 1795, which are all cannot be legally exported.

2. Make sure that the antiques you bought carry a wax seal indicating that it is authentic and is able to be exported from China.

3. Keep all purchase receipts, especially that of Chinese medicine herbs, antiques, gold and silver articles, jade ware and etc. They would be asked to produce by customs when leaving China.

4. Do not buy those articles made form rare wild animals. All the contraband articles would be confiscate without compensation.

5.Examine items carefully before buying them.