What to Buy in China
China's classic gifts — tea, silk, porcelain, jade, snacks and museum wenchuang — city by city. What to buy, where to buy it, and how to spot the real thing.
12 cities · 6 categories · 70+ tried-and-tested souvenirs
Shopping by Category
Chinese Tea (茶叶)
China's most iconic export. Longjing from Hangzhou, Biluochun from Suzhou, Tieguanyin from Fujian, and aged Pu'er from Yunnan. Buy loose-leaf from specialty shops and drink it before you pay — the best shops let you taste first.
Silk & Textiles (丝绸)
Silk from Suzhou and Hangzhou, Shu brocade from Chengdu, Yunjin from Nanjing, and bespoke qipao dresses. Look for the silk-content label (100% silk) and buy from state-run silk stores to avoid fakes.
Ceramics & Porcelain (瓷器)
Jingdezhen porcelain, Tang tri-color glazed pottery, Canton porcelain and Yixing clay teapots. Hand-painted pieces make the best gifts — check for the maker's mark and ask about firing technique.
Jade & Handicrafts (玉器手工艺)
Jade carvings, Beijing cloisonné, paper-cutting, shadow puppets and lacquerware. Traditional craft villages and museum gift shops sell genuine pieces with certificates of authenticity.
Snacks & Local Food (食品特产)
Packed pastries, cured meats, dried fruit, tea eggs and hotpot base. Old-brand shops (laozihao) sell vacuum-packed local specialties that survive the flight home.
Modern & Trendy (文创潮品)
Palace Museum stationery, panda plushies, hanfu and creative cultural products (wenchuang). Museum gift shops and cultural districts are where young travelers load up.
Shopping by City
Beijing (北京)
China's capital is the home of imperial crafts — cloisonné, jade, silk and the snacks of old Beijing. The Forbidden City gift shop alone could fill a suitcase.
6 souvenirs
City attractions guide →Xi'an (西安)
The ancient capital offers Tang-dynasty crafts — terracotta warrior replicas, shadow puppets and calligraphy supplies.
6 souvenirs
City attractions guide →Shanghai (上海)
Old Shanghai glamour meets modern design — from art-deco silks and cheongsam dresses to century-old snack shops.
6 souvenirs
City attractions guide →Hangzhou (杭州)
The home of Longjing tea and world-famous silk — two gifts that have defined Chinese taste for centuries.
6 souvenirs
City attractions guide →Chengdu (成都)
Sichuan's capital gives you the country's richest crafts — Shu embroidery, Shu brocade — and the famous fiery flavors to take home.
6 souvenirs
City attractions guide →Guilin & Yangshuo (桂林)
The karst landscape city is famous for its 'Three Treasures' — chili sauce, fermented tofu and Sanhua rice wine.
6 souvenirs
City attractions guide →Guangzhou (广州)
Canton's trading-port heritage shows in its crafts — Canton porcelain, Cantonese embroidery — and its famous cured meats and teas.
6 souvenirs
City attractions guide →Suzhou (苏州)
China's 'Venice of the East' is the silk and embroidery capital — Suzhou embroidery and Song brocade are national treasures.
6 souvenirs
City attractions guide →Nanjing (南京)
The old capital of six dynasties is known for Yunjin brocade — the 'cloud brocade' once reserved for emperors.
6 souvenirs
City attractions guide →Chongqing (重庆)
The spicy mountain city's edible souvenirs are its superpower — hotpot base, hechuan peach slices and pickled mustard.
6 souvenirs
City attractions guide →