Shopping in Guilin
 Like all of China's major cities, Guilin is a shopper's paradise. Shoppers in this city can purchase anything from tea and clothing, to local arts and crafts. Guilin has three main shopping districts: the Zheng Yang Lu Pedestrian Street (Walking Street) located in the city's center, Xi Cheng Lu Pedestrian Street, and Wa Yao Wholesale Shopping District. These wonderful shopping places offer unique items that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Although Guilin has no notable department stores, this is a good area to pick some nice souvenirs. The area around Mopanshan Dock has a few nice small shops selling gems and other traditional Guilin souvenirs such as Bamboo and wooden carvings. Guilin is an especially good place to pick up some tasty snack food. The oranges and small kumquats around here are very juicy and Guilin people also have a very sweet tooth so it's worth checking out some of their delicious candy.
Yangshuo (about 70 km from Guilin) also has some sweet little boutiques and a great weekend market where you can pick up some nice souvenirs and also some good quality clothing. Yangshuo painted fans make a nice gift and the selection in the town is good. Make sure you bargain hard here however, as the store and stall owners are used to ripping foreigners off!
Prosperous businesses in Guilin are actually centered along the mid -Zhongshan Road that is usually called "Shopping Street". Here one can buy not only ordinary commodities but also antiques, jewels and jade, calligraphy and paintings, bamboo and wooden sculptures,works of art and china, embroidery and tablecloths
Local Special Product
Preserved Bean Curd
This is one of the three treasures of Guilin which has a history over 300 years. Huaqiao(Flower Bridge)is the only authentic brand of preserved bean curd in Guilin. The main material for the preserved bean curd is nice fresh bean. There are three kinds of preserved bean curd according to their flavors, the five-flavor one ,the spicy one and the white one.
Guilin Chili Catsup
This is one of the three treasures of Guilin which has a history over 300 years. The best brand is the Huanqiao chili catsup. The main raw materials are lobster sauce, garlic, some lobster sauce salt and Sauhua wine. This is very good for eating as well as be used as dressing.
Guilin Preserved Beancurd Plant of Guangxi
Guangxi Guilin Preserved Beancurd Plant was originated from the Qianlong, Youngzheng time in Qing dynasty. The best workshops are Tianyijiang, Chenyuanzhi, Wuhezu. The former three workshops were united in 1958 as the Guilin Preserved Beancurd Plant and registered the trademark Huaqiao. Guilin Preserved Beancurd Plant is now a member of the Chinese Condiment Association.The plant has inherited the hundreds of years of craft and expanded sales of the products of Huaqiao preserved beancurd and the Elephant Hill beancurd sticks. It also developed the Guishao chili catsup and other legume food.
Lipu Taro
It is produced in Lipu Couny. The pulp has the patterns of betel nuts. It is big, elliptical. The flesh is fine and smooth. It is rich in protein, amylum, calcium, and many kinds of vitamin. It tastes savory and very soft after boiled.
Grosvenor Momordica
Grosvenor Momordica are mainly produced in Yongfu county and Lingui county. The shape of the fruit is elliptic or globose. The color of the ripe fruit is dark brown. There light yellow pappi on the surface of the fruit.
Shatian Pomelo
The main production area of Shatian Pomelo is Yangshuo, Gongcheng county. The shape of the fruit is like a pear. The color of the ripe fruit is bright yellow. The most obvious feature is that there is a neck at the pedicel; there are patterns that look like corns.
Maidenhair Fruit
It is also named Ginkgo. It is one of the oldest plant in the world, thus it gets the name”living fossil”. The fruit of ginkgo is like little apricot, and the stone is silver white.
Art Pottery
The material of Guilin art pottery is local mud. The pottery is made through traditional crafts and modern technology. The main theme is the hills and rivers of Guilin. The sculpt is lively, the color is bright and the drawing lines are simple.
Landscape Painting
The landscape Painting mainly represent the ideal pictures of natural environment of Chinese people. The main color is black and white. Most of them are idealistic paintings.
Bamboo & Wooden Carvings
Bamboo and wood carvings are another local specialty which is popular with tourists in Guilin and Yangshuo. Green bamboo and boxwood are embossed and hollowed out to produce pretty carvings. Typical subjects include landscapes, characters, birds and flowers. Examples of these carvings can be seen in the small handicraft boutiques on Xi Jie in Yangshuo.
Yangshuo Painted Fans
Yangshuo painted paper fans are delightfully delicate and colorful. The fans are available in various sizes but all are made with either silk or paper with bamboo as the fan support. The painted fan undergoes a series of processes including dyeing, mounting and painting with lacquer before it is ready for retail. Local painters in Yangshuo particularly enjoy depicting birds, flowers, insects and traditional Chinese girls. These fans are widely available in Yangshuo in many of the boutiques in the village and also at the weekend market.
Shopping Places
The Guilin Wayao Tourism Handiwork Whole Sale Market
The Guilin Wayao Tourism Handiwork Whole Sale Market has a collection of handiwork, jewels, jade and ornamental stones from all over the country. It is so far the biggest of its kind in China.
The Binjiang Night Market
The Binjiang Night Market is an extensive series of stalls, illuminated by high pressure kerosene lanterns, lined up along the Binjiang Road and is a particularly good place for strolling tourists looking for bargain priced souvenirs.
The Guilin Arts and Porcelain Factory
The Guilin ceramics industry has a long history dated to the Sui and the Tang Dynasties, with a prosperous period in the Ming and the Qing Dynasties. Its products, with a strong sense of artistic charm, are deeply rooted in the particularly spectacular Guilin scenery. Visitors enjoy and appreciate these high quality products as souvenirs or works of arts. The factory produces different kinds of ceramic products, some master craftsmen's works, and ceramic works copied from the Ming and the Qing Dynasties, especially for the visitors.
Zhengyang Pedestrian Street
Zhengyang Pedestrian Street is 666 meters long and located in the downtown of Guilin city. It is surrounded by restaurants, hotels, theatres, stadiums, commercial facilities and scenic spots..
Zhengyang Pedestrian Street has all of the conveniences that are required for good shopping in a very pleasant environment.
In many ways Zhengyang Pedestrian Street is the hub of the city. Its shops and restaurants bring thousands of people daily to the area and at night it pulsates with life as people use the many venues that offer great nightlife.
Wa Yao Tour Products Wholesale Market:
The Wa Yao Wholesale Market is much larger than the two pedestrian streets. It recently moved to its new location, which is made up of several 6 storey buildings. It is very clean, and convenient. Wa Yao is where individual shoppers and buyers from other shops go for their needs. This market is so large that it would take several days to see everything. Wa Yao has something for everybody. It sells everything from clothing and house wares, to antiques and art. The Wa Yao Tour Products Shopping District is organized into categorized sections, so finding things is fairly easy. It does not have name brand items, but what it does have is quite affordable. It is a bargainer's paradise. The first price quoted is usually far higher than the shop keeper would accept. Usually the more items you purchase, the lower the price accepted becomes. The general rule is to offer less than half of the quoted price and work up from there. Since the market is organized into many sections it is easy to shop for prices. It is always a good idea to shop around to make sure that you get the best prices.
Night Market:
Guilin has a night market which is located on Zhong Shan Zhong Lu. It is very long and goes from the Wei Xiao Tang Shopping Mall (Nico Nico Do) to the Guilin Department Store. At 7:00 every evening, the street is blocked off to make room for the market. It has a great atmosphere and is a great place to pick up souvenirs. This market offers special local handicrafts and souvenirs. It is important to bargain. Prices are not set in stone and quoted prices will be much higher than what the stall owner will accept.
| Name |
Address |
Telephone
(0773) |
Post Code |
Main Items |
|
Silver Dragon Jewelry Co. Ltd. |
No.26, Qixing Road, Guilin |
5829888 |
541004 |
Jewelry and jade products |
|
Lulling Drug Store |
Botanical Garden, Yanshan, Guilin |
3550696 |
541000 |
Chinese herbal medicine |
|
Gaoxin Jewelry Co. Ltd. |
Gaoxin Development Mansion, Sanluan |
5827385 |
541004 |
Jewelry and jade products |
|
Yanrong Dizhi Art and Crafts Center |
Yanrong Dizhi Hall, Guilin |
5811665 |
541004 |
Calligraphy and paintings |
|
Golden Dragon Shopping Center |
1st building, No.66, Binjiang Road, Guilin |
2815951 |
541001 |
Guilin local products and specialities |
|
Luxhuan Nationalities Calligraphy and Paintings Shop |
Guilin Tourism Institute, Guilin |
5812415 |
541004 |
Calligraphy and Paintings |
|
Museum Calligraphy and Paintings Shop |
Musem, Guilin |
2823477 |
541004 |
Calligraphy and Paintings |
|
Normal College Arts Shop |
Guangxi Normal College, Guilin |
2827108 |
541001 |
Calligraphy and Paintings |
|
Wanya Jewelry Co. Ltd. |
No.211, Lijun Road, Guilin |
2822525 |
541001 |
Jewelry and Jade products |
|
Rundong Jewelry Co. Ltd. |
No.7 Dongjiang Road, Guilin |
5823636 |
541004 |
Jewelry and jade products |
|
Rongshengzhai |
No.25 South Zhongshan Road, Guilin |
3846870 |
541002 |
Jewelry and jade products |
|
Julong Jewelry Center |
1st Fllor, Xing’an Communications |
5818358 |
541004 |
Jewelry and jade products |
|
Luyou Jade-carving Factory |
Jiashan Restaurant, Guilin |
2861562 |
541001 |
Jewelry and jade products |
|
Yulong Jewelry Shop |
No.4 Shijianyuan, Lidong Road, Guilin |
5831928 |
541004 |
Jewelry and jade products |
|
Liusanjie Arts Troupes Shop |
Kongjun Gaopao School, Guilin |
3604708 |
541003 |
Jewelry and jade products |
|
Huilong Jewelry Shop |
No.3 Liyuan Road, Guilin |
3845658 |
541004 |
Jewelry and jade products |
|
Orient Jewelry Co. Ltd. |
Mopanshan Wharf, Guilin |
3601089 |
541000 |
Jewelry and jade products |
|
Ziyuan Trading Company |
No.35 Xishan Road, Guilin |
2834176 |
541001 |
Pearl products |
|
Silver Dragon Jewelry Co. Ltd, Pearl and Paintings Branch |
No.1 Chuanshan Road, Guilin |
5825888 |
541004 |
Pearl products |
|
Wuhua Trading Co. Ltd. |
Peach River Road, Guilin |
2827026 |
541001 |
Pearl products |
|
Ruibao Crystal Products Shop |
2nd Floor Kuangchan Building, Fuxing Road, Guilin |
5819292 |
541004 |
Crystal products |
|
Zhaoliang Crystal Shop |
No.34 Qixing Road, Guilin |
5819301 |
541004 |
Crystal products |
|
Taifeng Jewelry Co. Ltd. |
No.18 Lijiang Road, Guilin |
5814332 |
541004 |
Crystal products |
|
Sanren Jewelry Co. Ltd. |
6nd Building No.2 South Zhongshan Road, Guilin |
3823535 |
541002 |
Crystal products |
|
Lipai Fashion Company |
No.85 Binjiang Road, Guilin |
2807321 |
541001 |
Silk clothes |
|
Shanyu Nature Oddly Shaped Stones Museum |
1st Building, No.2 South Zhongshan Road, Guilin |
3826482 |
541002 |
Oddly shaped stones |
|
Arts Porcelain Factory |
No.74 Qixing Road, Guilin |
5812763 |
541004 |
Porcelain |
|
Zhongrentang Drug Store |
No.15 Renming Road, Guilin |
2826368 |
541001 |
Medicine |
|
Beijing Baoshutang Drug Store, Guilin Branch |
59nd Building No.18 Longyin Road, Guilin |
5814485 |
541004 |
Medicine |
|