What to Buy in China
Tea, silk, porcelain, jade, local snacks and museum wenchuang — China's best souvenirs across six categories, with honest buying advice.
🍵 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.
General Shopping Tips
- ·Spot fakes: check silk-content labels (100% silk), look for the maker's mark on porcelain and jade, and buy from museum shops or state-run stores for high-value crafts.
- ·Haggling: negotiate at street markets and souvenir stalls (start at 50% of the asking price), but prices in malls, supermarkets and museum shops are fixed.
- ·Tax refund: tourists can claim a VAT refund on purchases over ¥500 at stores showing the tax-refund sign — keep receipts and complete the process at the airport before departure. Refund is available in 29+ cities.
- ·Customs: check your home country's limits on meat, plant products and antiques. Tea and textiles are usually fine; fresh produce is not.
- ·Packing: tea and snacks compress well; fragile porcelain and jade need padding — shops will bubble-wrap if you ask.