Steph ([info]steph_grrl) wrote,
@ 2007-05-28 00:14:00
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Beijing!
I found out I have the opportunity to go to Beijing sometime this summer/fall. I'm so psyched! Anyone been? I think I'm going to bring an empty suitcase so I can bring a ton of stuff back! Or maybe I'll ship stuff, I dunno. Still looking up stuff on the intarweb to discover the touristy things I can do/see.

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[info]urox
2007-05-28 04:26 am UTC (link)
I've been. Depending on how long you go for, you may want to spend some time in Shanghai. Much better with the picking up of stuff... and it's closer to sizhou: the silk capitol.

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[info]urox
2007-05-28 04:31 am UTC (link)
Oh, and while over there, I just purchased a cheapy piece of luggage to take things back extra in... and don't be afraid to *really* scrutinize the quality of things made. They won't hesitate in selling you something defective.

And bargain! I promise you that you can get anything there at a third of the original price they quote you at. The best bargaining tool you can have is after they tell you a price, and you tell them much lower, and they laugh at you.. what you do is just smile and say, "No, thanks," and WALK AWAY. If they really want your sale and think that what you said really was reasonable, they'll walk after you. There were so many times where we weren't interested in anything and they'd yell out a price to us and we'd smile and keep walking and while we were walking and completely uninterested, they'd severely lower the price.

There's some beautiful things at the "official" government stores that you can get on the street for much less. The government stores are supposed to insure quality, but you may just want to have a sharp eye for street merchandise. Rather than paying $40 for some elaborately carved sandlewood fans, we paid perhaps $3 for them.

If you like Jade, definitely go to the Jade Factory... very inexpensive... you won't find cheaper in America and then you won't necessarily be able to tell if it is real or not.

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[info]steph_grrl
2007-05-29 05:25 pm UTC (link)
I'll be going with the BF, who has to stay in Beijing for work reasons. So I probably wouldn't go to Shanghai.

But yeah, I'm very good at haggling, when stores let me! Hard to haggle at the grocery store or the gas stop. "I'll tell you what, I'll give you $.99 for that gas, but that's as high as I go!" :)

I would love to get some textiles from Beijing, and other little "stuff" you know? And the food! I hope the food is good, because I love all types of chinese food.

Anyways, this trip isn't set in stone, as we don't know for certain yet if Peter will have to go over there. But I hope he does! :)

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