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This page contains a little basic information that all short-stay China visitors should be aware of. It may save you a considerable amount of time, $$$ and frustration! There are more tips on shopping in China for art and antiques at this link.
Understanding your tour guide
Shops in China divide into two types: those that give kick-backs to tour guides and those that don't, such as ours. Not giving kick-backs benefits both the shop and the customer since it means that there are no hidden charges when you purchase items, but it also means that if you are traveling with a guide, he/she may not recommend stores like ours and may even try to dissuade you from visiting. Excuses that you may hear include:
"the store is closed"
"it's too far away and we don't have time"
... and so on. If you are on an organized tour and want to visit us you will probably have to insist: you are in charge of your trip, not your guide!
Generally, you will get better choice and better deals from shopping in China (and most Asian countries) if you leave your tour guide behind when you go shopping. Guides will usually demand a kickback from the store owner of 20-30% of the price of the item, the cost of which is factored into the price you pay. Bear in mind that hotel concierges also get payments for directing tourists to particular stores and attractions, so for the best shopping experience it is better to consult reputable guidebooks and make your own choices.
Guides with a few top companies (for example, Imperial Tours) don't accept kick-backs, and can actually help you shop more effectively.
What if I don't speak Chinese?
Travel and shopping in Beijing and Shanghai are actually not that hard even if you don't speak the local language. Equip yourself with a map that has English and Chinese on it, and print out maps and directions from websites such as ours. Show these directions to taxi drivers and you will easily find your destination. Taxis are cheap and plentiful - one of the bonuses of traveling in China. You will also find that many younger people (30 or under) in the main cities speak some English, and are happy to have the chance to practice by giving you directions ;-)
Using your mobile phone
You can buy a pre-paid SIM card to plug into your mobile phone when you arrive in China: these are sold at most airports. You can then make cheap local calls - very useful for calling stores to get directions for taxi drivers. This also enables you to call your hotel in case you get lost - they can give directions to your driver.
Watch-outs
Be wary of people who want to "show you around" for no charge in popular spots. They may tell you that they just want to practice their English, but most are acting as touts and will try to lead you to a particular store, to a "student painting exhibition" or something similar!
Do your own research
Buy guidebooks to the cities you visit, and also pick up the free magazines (That's Beijing, That's Shanghai, City Weekend, Time Out, Eight Days, Shanghai Talk) that are available everywhere. You will get an objective view of what's hot and what's not.
Enjoy!
Beijing and Shanghai are some of the safest, most fun and exciting cities in the world to visit and shop in: we are looking forward to meeting you :-)
More on shopping for art, antiques and decorative items.. |
