Guangzhou Shopping

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Well, you go to the normal European department stores and you see a lot of item made in China. So, significant high percentages of those items are made here in Guangzhou. So in general, you can find in Guangzhou just about anything to buy.

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Thinking of whipping up a Thai feast but can't find the appropriate ingredients in Guangzhou supermarkets? Try this company : GZ Chou Qin Hang trade co.

Recommended by a friend, I got to know that this company is a trading company that provides thai ingredients to the Thai restaurants in GZ. They don't have a retail shop in GZ. The place I visited are their store rooms, one is a cold room that stores all the perishables like veges, fresh herbs and another normal store room that keeps the bottled thai sauces, curries, grains etc.

As it's not a retail shop but a storeroom, don't expect nice display of food. We looked around the boxes for what we want. :P

What to buy: You can find the following, just to name some: Limes, basil leaves, chilli padi, pandan leaves etc. You can also find red and green curry paste, coconut milk, rice paper, thai chilli sauce, fish sauce etc.

What to pay: Cheaper that you buy the same thing in a speciality shop. Sometimes, you can't even find these inredients in any retail shops.

Yi De Lu and areas near Yi De Lu is where you will find many, Many wholesale malls and shops. Yi De Lu is famous for its stationeries and gifts wholesale market. There are at least 6 shopping complexes, some 6 storeys high, all selling stationeries, decors, toys, gifts etc etc. If it's your first time there, I guarantee you that you'll be overwhelmed! You will!

Again, as I mentioned about shopping in wholesale markets, they usually sell in bulk and bargaining power is not on your side. If you just want to buy one or two, their retail price would be much higher than wholesale price or they may not even want to entertain you. Of course, if you are really going to buy in bulk for businesses, aha, you'll be spoilt with choices. Many of the shops sells similar things and so you are able to compare prices.

Not only that, there is also a dried seafood wholesale market along the road.

Behind Yi De Lu, there's also a major shoe wholesale market.

And near to Yi De Lu, the Tai Kang Lu, I spotted a wholesale mall (Tai Kang Cheng) that sells all the girls accessories like crunchies, hair clips, necklaces, beads, belts etc etc. And beside this mall is another wholesale market that sells all those toilets parts like pipes, bathtub, toiletbowls etc.

I can't describe enough, go see it for yourself! The photo shows one of the aircon stationery mall at Yi De Lu.

What to buy: Stationeries, keychains, soft toys, purses, decors, clocks, etc etc

What to pay: They transact only in cash. So bring enough cash.

Beside buying your food and household equipment from supermarkets, there are also many wet markets selling really fresh food.

Wet market can be found commonly in GZ. Although they may vary in the hygiene level and the cleanliness, the vegetables sold there are usually fresher than supermarkets and at a much cheaper price. Most wet market would have stalls selling live chickens and live seafood, killed only upon your purchase.

Unlike supermarkets where vegetables are pre-packed in standard quantity and price tagged, you can choose and buy any quantity you want in the wet market and even ask for free spring onion, chilli or coriander if you buy alot from the same vendor. If you like, you can also bargain but generally it will only be 10 cents or 20 cents cheaper. But as there will be many stalls for you to choose and compare prices, few will try to bargain with the veg sellers.

There are also "dry stores" that sells rice, sauces, beans, other dried food etc.

But do take note that they sell mostly local products, you still need to get your pasta or tempura flour in supermarkets!

One of the biggest book mall in Guangzhou. Multistory high with each level providing different categories of book range. The mall mainly sells chinese books but there two private bookstores that sells english books too. One of them, by the name "New Page" that has nice ambience, provides english background music and seats for your books browsing.

At the ground floor, there are also counters selling digital dictioneries, MP3s and MP4s. Beside the main entrance is the customer service counter, where you can give them the list of book names you want to find and they will search them for you from their database. They will then give you a slip of paper with the floor and book shelve reference no for you to find them.

What to buy: Vast variety of chinese books - Chinese history, literature, cookbooks, novels etc.

English books - Especially those english books printed in China, they may cost even cheaper than you buy them overseas.

To the hotel purchasing department, this is the place where you can source your hotel's bath room accessories, restaurant kitchen wares, lobby displays etc etc. This is a hotel wholesale market selling all sorts of products related to the hotel industry.

This one storey wholesale markets is filled with rows of shops, subgrouped into garments and cloth section, kitchen and restaurant sections etc.

These shops usually entertain only wholesale customers but you can still get small quantity purchase from some of the shops. So, you have to try your luck if you're not buying wholesale. But if they agree to sell you in one or two pieces, it would be much more expensive than you buy wholesale.

Being a non aircon wholesale market, it's hot to visit in summer.

In the picture: Hugh blocks of chopping boards for restaurant kitchen use.

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We enjoyed shopping in the Shang Xia Jiu Pedestrian Street. Lots of shops, lots to shop ;) and very cheap. If you are staying in the hotel Shi fu Holiday Inn, it is right outside the door. There is a Mc Donalds in case you don't fancy the local specialities :)

Next to this, there is the Shangxia Jiu Lu and Teem Plaza area. Shangxia Jiu Lu is the most influential traditional commercial street in Guangzhou and is located in the Liwan District of Xiguan. It is the first commercial pedestrian street in Guangzhou.

Walking on the Beijing Lu, in the center of Guangzhou City, however, you will find a world not far different from Shangxia Jiu Lu.

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What to buy: Pretty well everything you see in the City is available at the local village markets at a fraction of the price. Of course, this only works if you are going to the local villages, but the people are friendly, polite and very different from the city dwellers. I found many items for about fraction of the city prices in touristy areas like Beijing Road.

I never had any problems making purchases, but it does help to know the value of your Yuans. Carry smaller bills under $20.00, don't try to purchase with larger bills. Even if you have to neg. for an item, it will still be far less than in the city. If your are not happy walk away and go to another stall, the vendor will quickly neg. a better price.

What to pay: I was happy to pay for most items without neg. most the time, as it was reasonable & to support the locals who are out there trying to earn a good living. You will find plenty of decent stalls selling just about everything. There are also plenty of food items not sold off the ground such as seen in the photo, but off of proper tables, bins, shelves, etc.

If you are there for any length of time, the vendors will get to know you and will give you great deals. As I found when I purchased a bike and went back for another later and then accessories again later. You will have fun cruising through the local markets, watch out for the odd motorcycles cruising through with deliveries.You will see how the locals shop daily and get a good perspective on village life.