Xi'an Shopping

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lots of small shops selling a variety of 'same same' foodstuff but you can sample and select from the freshest looking food etc

What to buy: i bought dry cakes made of beans, walnuts, almonds etc and preserved raisins, dates, figs etc.
i wish i could pack the tiny seedless persimmons, which are made into the most delicious fried dessert with jammy fillings.

What to pay: bargain, bargain, bargain...ALWAYS!

When shopping, and this goes for anywhere in China that sells tourist souvenirs, please, please, please, haggle with the vendor. I'm not trying to suggest screwing the vendors, I'm trying to keep cheap souvenir trinkets cheap for future travelers. Of course prices will change with time, but we don't need to help them along! When I was last in China, about 8 years ago, prices were much lower, as I remember. I know they have to make a living, but there is a belief among vendors that tourists are stupid, as I've heard and experienced, and that exists because tourist pay the asking price.

Haggling is a common part of Chinese culture and the cultures of many places- you don't need to haggle at restaurants and hotels, but for souvenirs keep in mind that if you don't haggle, that helps pave the way for higher prices. Besides, it's part of the culture, and though it's sad, it may be the only way to interact with locals if you are on a tour.

What to buy: Recent examples:

280 yuan for a cheaply made fake Rolex that didn't even work. The vendor girl told me "high quality, very good price for you". I bet. I know watches, I know quality. It was a terrible piece of junk that wasn't even worth the 7 yuan I offered for it... not that I wanted it, I just wanted to see the real value it had. She dropped to 20.

60 yuan for a large chop ink pad. No way.

260 for a large (4x6) Quotations of Mao book... down to 50- 25 from a vendor down the way.

30 yuan for a taxi from the train station to the south gate (about 3km). Go by the meter.

8 years ago, I bought an 800 yuan sword for 100... I could have gone lower, I bet. He made money off me, but I got a cool sword.

On this trip we visited a painter who sold other people's work in his shop in the Muslim Quarter (on the souvenir street). He seemed like a reasonable guy who sold real work (not just stuff stamped out (or quickly painted) at factories). At least he seemed real enough, and had a different feel to him (genuine or a good act?) that felt different than the others, with no pressure or hawking.

What to pay: I typically offer much less than half the asking price. Again, that Rolex, I offered 5, then 7. She moved from 280 to 100 to 20, and would have given me less if I pressed. I only had 7 yuan to spend, but it wasn't worth a broken watch. My current fake Rolex is much higher quality. ;) Figure out what you want to pay, then leave yourself room to come up to that number.

The prices are ridiculously cheap and you are still expected to haggle. The quality of the goods varies considerably. The area around the market, especially on Changying West Road, has some wholesale shops as well.

What to buy: Clothes, especially jackets (very cold in winter), shoes, bags, fabric.

What to pay: Pay less than half of the asked price, 30-40% is usual.

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In the City Wall you can buy from music to porcelain. Or for 100 yuan you can have your name on a rice paper along with another sign. It's already done and the caligrapher just put your name on it (picture). I chose the sign of "happiness".

What to buy: Traditional music, a porcelain tea cup or even a table!

What to pay: it costs 100 yuan. Maybe it's expensive but i really liked it!

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Don't go back home without buying your own Terracotta warriors!! Buy them to the local vendors outside the museum as it's way cheapier and you can't tell the difference. The box brings 5 warriors and a horse. Make sure to pack them well so they arrive safely home. Pay them with exact cash!

What to pay: Bargain a lot... from 10 yuan I got them for just 3!

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Xiao Zhai pedestrian overpass was jam full of shoppers when our bus passed by on our way to the Big Goose Pagoda. So of course we had to check it out........lots of boutiques, department stores, pharmacies, etc.

But on our way to the Terra Cotta Warriors, past the train station (a totally different direction from Xiao Zhai), we also saw lots of shops. There were several blocks of shops selling shoes, just past the train station.

If you want to shop like the locals, you will want to get outside of the city walls.

We had a chance to buy a copy of the book about the Terracotta Warriors signed the local farmer who discovered them in 1974 while digging a well.

He has become a well-renowned figure, often appearing at the site for book-signing . WE were told he was only givn a couple of dollars from the government for his discovery but he seems to be enjoying his fame , at least.

There is a gift shop inside the Museum of the Terra Cotta Soldiers. As usual the prices are very high...even more so than some of the other tourist gift shops we've seen .
If you want to buy a set of the Terra Cotta Warriors You might want to buy them from the venders outside .
Inside they wanted $70.00 ( we saw then everywhere in other gift shops for $25.00)

From the venders we bought them for $2.00...the same set even in the same box. I caution you to watch how many yo buy though as they are heavy to pack!!