Shopping

SHOPPING

China is a shoppers paradise! From name brands to knock-offs, most of the world's consumer goods are produced in China.

First rule of shopping in China: Bargain!
Two of the most useful expressions you can learn in Chinese are Duoshao qian? (How much is it?) and Tai gui le! (That’s too expensive!) No matter what the price offered, expressing that your desired item is too expensive is your first step in making a deal.  Generally, you can bargain almost anywhere except department stores, taxis, supermarkets, and Starbucks. Remember, it's all in good fun, so it's always best to bargain with a smile and understand that sometimes it is not negotiable.

WHAT IS CHEAP IN CHINA?
Clothing

• Ready-to-wear
• Many of the world's garments are produced in China. This means that samples, extra-runs, and discontinued lines of clothing are available in the Chinese market for a fraction of what you would pay back home.  Markets and small stores tend to have better bargains than the big department stores. The bad news is things run small.
• Tailoring
• Chinese tailors are excellent at replicating items and fabric markets abound. There is usually an area of town that specializes in fabrics and there you can pick our your material, barter a price, and wait for your dream suit, jacket, shirt or pants to be sewn.  It is best to bring a garment to copy. It also works well to bring pictures of what you want made. And not to fear: if it does not turn out, you didn't spend much on it anyway.

Software and DVDs
DVDs of new movies, tv series, and computer software are easy to find in China. Piracy abounds throughout China and you will soon know where to find it, but legitimate copies are also available at chainstores like Carrefour or Wal-Mart. For music and video CDs/DVDs the price is usually a little over RMB 20—about three times the price of a bootlegged version but still inexpensive by western standards.

DVD players and other comfort items can be bought from smaller retailers or in large stores. A DVD player can be bought for a bargain-as low as RMB 150.

WHAT IS EXPENSIVE IN CHINA?
Imported Items
Anything from food to clothes to iPhones, (legitimately) imported items are significantly more expensive than back home because of the import tax. Shop wisely in the department and brand stores. Even items that were originally produced in China and re-verse imported into China are expensive.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU?
As a basic rule of thumb, in China you'll spend your money on the extras (a hand-tailored suit, a box collection of the LOST tv series, a questionably real Prada bag). Your staple items you will still do best to find at home.

Some things to make sure to pack:

• Cosmetics: They are here, but not as much selection and may be expensive
• Over the counter medications: Drug stores and pharmacies are a different beast all together here in China.
• Prescription medications: The controlled drugs in China may be different and/or it may be challenging to get the same drug in a similar quantity here in China. Best to bring a year's supply of what you need if possible.
• Shoes: Finding sizes for larger feet can be challenging, and the style may be different than what you are used to. You will appreciate having comfortable shoes that you like, so buy in bulk before you come. 
• Irregular sizes: Same as above. It is possible to get things made, but there is no guarantee that you will like how it fits.