Sunflowers and Ladybugs

Shopping tips...

1.In Beijing we did not do a lot of Shopping but we did make 2 purchases one was a silk comforter and sheet set for Sophia's bed when she is older. We got this at the Silk factory it is beautiful and we are glad we bought it. We however did not have our bargaining legs when we got this so we probably paid way to much for it but we have no regrets it will be one of Sophia's yearly gifts that we give her on our Family Day anniversary. So I say buy stuff like this if you want just don't be afraid to bargain all they can do is say no and then you have to make a decision how much you want it.

2. The second thing we bought in Beijing was a Large Jade Puzzle Ball. We got this at the Jade factory store. You can find these in Guangzhou but the one we bought in Beijing was much better quality. It was more detailed in carving and a richer jade color. We bought Jade balls in Guangzhou as gifts but really wish we would have been able to buy more when we were in Beijing.

3. One more thing about Beijing shopping when you are in the Forbidden City or Tiananmen square you will have people trying to sell you stuff the are HIGH Pressure and I do mean HIGH pressure. Say NO or in Chinese Boo yao keep saying it and keep walking they will cross the street with you tyring to get you to buy their stuff they are relentless just keep walking. We did buy 2 books from them 1 on the Forbidden City and the other on the Great Wall but Zhou our guide helped us with that transaction and even after we bough them the same girls we got them from was trying to sell us the same books over and over....it is all part of the China experience go with the flow...

Nanchang Shopping...

again we did not do a whole lot of Shopping here but we did make a few purchases from Walmart so we could say we shopped in the Walmart in Nanchang China. Pay for the cloth bag at Check out it makes a cool souvenir later.....

the one place I would send everyone to is Tiffany's Place it is right next to the Galactic Peace International Hotel. You walk out of the hotel and turn right go 2 or 3 store fronts down and you will see her store. She is very sweet and helpful. She was able to get us the news paper from the day we got Sophia along with the whole paper from the day Sophia's finding add was placed She also translated the news clipping for us all for free... We had Sophia's Christening dress made there with a hat and shoes it was done in one day and is beautiful. We made a few other purchases from her for Sophia's Family Day gifts. Nanchang is known for the beautiful Blue and White porcelain so we got her a nice set of chop sticks done in the blue and white porcelain. Tiffany's also does laundry and although we think it was cheaper and packaged better in Guangzhou it was still OK and much cheaper then the hotel.

if you have space and time go to the Computer mall several store fronts down from Tiffany's they have everything electronic you could imagine and CHEAP! We got an extra battery for our digital camera for $7 US. They also had I-pods for $30 I wish I had more weight space in my suitcases because they would have made great gifts....


GUANGZHOU.... AKA Shopping MEACA for all China adoptive Mommas and even some Babas too...

there are so many stores and they are all great all have basicly the same stuff for around the same price. So I would say window shop first see what you want write down prices from each store and then see who has the best price and Bargin like crazy... Riz wanted a Jade Buddah in the worst way we started out in one store 750 yuan and we bought it in an other store for 280 yuan so BARGIN BARGIN BARGIN ...... The one store I did not bargin in was the store "A Gift From China" I LOVED THIS STORE! I bought most of my stuff there for 2 reasons..
1. They seemed to have nicer better quality things a lot of hand made stuff and things that were unique.
2. The store was owned by a family who had adopted from China and who wanted to give back to the Children who were left behind. The profits from all the sales in this store go back to helping the Orphanages and the Children who are still waiting.

I wish I would have bought more in this store but as it was I left with 4 huge bags of stuff... LOL....

OK now that is a breif over view of shopping in China I hope it helps some of you still waiting to travel...

Hugs
Susan