I do tours tailored to your convienience in most major cities of China.
Specialise in the following cities.
Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Ningbo, Yiwu, Nanjing Changzhou
Beijing, Tianjin -Xi'an-Guangzhou/Shenzhen/hongkong-Guilin/Yunnan-Tibet
Private Shopping Assistant
As a shopping assistant I will provide a friendly enjoyable experience in the magnificent markets and bazaars of China that often overwhelm the novice and first time visitors.
I can bargain on your behalf like the locals and get those prices you could only dream about. (I Stricty Accept No Commissions from the Traders)
This will help you save money and have more time for sight seeing.
There is an amazing variity of shopping options in Shanghai, from the urban sreet stalls and hidden laneways , to the upmarket mega shopping centers.
Yu Gardens ShopShopping in the Yu Gardens. Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical garden located in Anren Jie, Shanghai.
It dates back to the Ming Dynasty with over 400 years history.
Yuyuan Garden occupies an area of 20,000 square meters (about five acres). However, the small size is not a representative of the attractions of the garden. The pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters all have unique characteristics. There are six main scenic areas in the garden: Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden. Each area features several scenic spots within its borders.
Surrounding the gardens is a maze of shops intricately weaving it's way through the temples and ancient buildings. This forms the "Old Town" a tradition looking collection of buildings right in the heart of Shanghai just minutes from the center of Shanghai, peoples square and the Bund.
As your shopping guide, I will make a shopping tour itinerary according to your requirements and preferences.Save your money and time !
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Top ten shop markets in shanghai
The term "market" is flexible, and in Shanghai, it applies to vendors selling virtually the same thing all under one roof, or in one open section of space. Unlike the Western sense of competition, the Chinese believe that if you are all selling the same thing, you'll attract more customers. Fair enough.
Indeed, this makes life easy for the shopper. Want pearls? Go to the pearl market. Want fabric? Go to the fabric market. Want crickets? You guessed it, go to the cricket market. Just remember your bargining skills You'll need them in the markets of Shanghai.
1.Dong tai road antique market
Description: Be warned, the word "antique" can apply to things made last year.
Address: Dong Tai Road, near Xizang Nan Road
Opening hours: Daily. Morning (in full swing by 9:30-10am) till sundown.
Comments: Dong Tai Road is a lot of fun, especially if you're in the mood to just wander and look at junk. You'll find every kind of Mao memorabilia to old records, photos, lanterns, porcelain, chopsticks and knick-knacks. Remember to bargain hard here and have fun treasure hunting.
2. Wholesale pearls city
Description: Wholesale freshwater pearls, sea water pearls, natural stones and crystals.
Address: First Asia Jewelry Plaza, 3rd floor, 288 Fuyou Lu
Opening hours: Daily. 10am-6pm.
Comments: Let fantasy be your guide. For pennies, you can design jewelry to your heart's content. Every vendor will have loads of ready-made jewelry for you to look over but you can also design your own. Just wait a few minutes and they'll string everything for you as you watch. Remember the golden rule: bargain, bargain, bargin!
3 Hongqiao new world market
Description: Same type of market as #2, but much bigger.
Address: Hong Mei Road on the corner of Hong Qiao Road
Opening hours: Daily. 10am-10pm.
Comments: The market is a little out of the way for the normal tourist who is staying downtown, but if you have time (hey, they're open until 10pm), make the trip out. Like Pearl's Circles, vendors have ready-made items for you to buy, but you can do your own designing. Freshwater pearls are a real value in China. Read more about buying perals in China here.
4 Science and Technology Museum market
Description: Underground (literally) maze of vendors selling toys, clothing, jewelry and a lot of fake (read counterfeit brand) bags and watches.
Address: Science and Technology Museum Metro Stop (Metro Line 2), Pudong
Opening hours: Daily. 10am-6pm.
Comments: What happened to xiangyang market? After that famous "fake" market closed its gates in 2006, many vendors relocated to Yatai Xinyang. This is a great place to buy inexpensive souvenirs: Shanghai t-shirts, chopsticks, cushion covers and pashminas. Let the buyer beware: when it comes to fakes, you get what you pay for (and you probably paid too much).
5. Shanghai Longhua Fashion and Gift Market
Description: Outdoor market full of stalls selling the same thing as #4 above.
Address: 2465 Longhua Road, near the Longhua Temple
Opening hours: Daily. 10am-6pm.
Comments: According to its local ads, the original xiangyang market is "now registered as Longhua Market". Well, indeed, after Xiang Yang, the famous "fake" market, closed its gates in 2006, many vendors relocated to Yatai Xinyang above and to the Longhua market. It sells the same items as #4, has the added value of being near the temple, so you could do a bit of sight-seeing before you shop.
6 shanghai south bound fabric market
Description: Three floors of fabric and tailors.
Address: 399 Lujiabang Road (near the Bund)
Opening hours: Daily. 10am-7pm.
Comments: Here you can make your couture dreams come true. Great values are qipaos, cashmere coats and men's shirts. Almost every stall has its own tailor who can whip up whatever you want in about a week. Your best bet is to have something you like copied over in your new fabric. Clothing made from photos or descriptions yield mixed (mostly bad) results. If you can, bring a Chinese speaker with you. Some tailors do speak English.
7. shanghai shi liu pu fabric market
Description: Three floors of fabric and tailors.
Address: 168 Dongmen Road, not far from Yuyuan Garden.
Opening hours: Daily. 10am-6pm.
Comments: This market is very similar to #6, but is much quieter and has a lot fewer foreigners standing around looking confused. You'll find the same fabrics - cashmere, silk, linen, wool and cotton at similar prices. Many vendors speak a bit of English but if you're having something complicated made, it's best to take along someone who can speak a bit of Chinese.
8. Flower, Bird, Fish and Insect Market
Description: Crazy maze of vendors selling pets and supplies. The bugs are really the reason to go.
Address: Tibet Road at Fuxing Road (just a few minutes walk from Dong Tai Road
Opening hours: Daily. 10am-6pm.
Comments: Unless you're in the market for fighting crickets or grubs to feed your birdies, this is more of a gawk-stop than a real shopping trip. It's worth the trip for the weird and unusual and you'll get some great photos.
9.Ciber market
Description: Three floors of all things computer/mobile phone/video/etc.
Address: 1 Huai Hai Middle Road at the corner of Xizang (Tibet) Road
Opening hours: Daily. 10am-9pm.
Comments: This is a great place to pick up bits and pieces such as extra digital camera batteries or memory cards, blank CDs and DVDs, USB memory sticks as well as bigger items such as printers, cell phones, etc. I might avoid the temptation of buying anything too big-ticket (e.g. iPods or computers). If you don't live in Shanghai, and you have trouble with the item, you won't be able to bring it back.
10. Muslim foods market
Description: Small area of a street with roadside vendors gathered selling Muslim foods and products.
Address: In front of the Huxi Mosque, 1328 Changde Lu, near Aomen Lu, Northern Jing'an District (1328 常德路近澳门路)
Opening hours: Weekly Fridays from morning until afternoon (best to go in mornings before lunchtime to catch all vendors
Comments: This is an interesting place to see some non-Han Chinese culture. Check ot the different offerings, sample some street food and even have a wander around the mosque. Most of the vendors come from Xinjiang Province and their cuisine is very different from eastern China. Folks are friendly but don't speak a lot of Mandarin - hand signals and smiles are useful. Ask before taking photos.
Please take your time and enjoy the shopping experience with maggie in China.
