What stuff can only be bought in China ?
June 1, 2014 1:53 AM Subscribe
Hello,
I'll be leaving China soon and I want to bring back some stuff that you can only find in Beijing (China).
I already bought a lot of things from Xiaomi for example.
Do you know anything else ?
Have a good day !
P.S : no food
I was going to suggest Wang Lao Ji, but I think that would be a bit hard to carry back. I've found a few types of Chinese medicine useful - if you have too it would be good to bring a supply back.
Cheap DVDs
You said no food, but maybe some seasonings/sauces
posted by duoshao at 5:01 AM on June 1, 2014
Cheap DVDs
You said no food, but maybe some seasonings/sauces
posted by duoshao at 5:01 AM on June 1, 2014
I'm bringing back a bunch of ridiculous looking pens and pencils. I'm sure they're available at home somewhere but I've never seen them. Certainly, you can't get pens that have a pile of shit at the top that say "life is shit" on the barrel. Or the matching plunger pen that also says "life is shit." I'm a fan of all the "life is a wonderful, live happy every day and enjoy the peace of your beautiful life" writing found on mundane things.
posted by sarae at 5:23 AM on June 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by sarae at 5:23 AM on June 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
I'm not sure if your concern with food was with the pollution or with getting through customs, but... certain tea leaves are always a good gift for people back home. And you can get Wang Lao Ji in the US, too, in ANY Chinatown-- no need to get that in Beijing, haha!
I usually stock up on really cheap notebooks. They typically have grammatically incorrect phrases on them and cutesy cartoons, but if you look around a bit more you can find some decent-looking ones.
You can get hot water bottles with "cute" prints on them. Like, things printed with Doraemon and Hello Kitty and whatnot on them. Or a rice cooker that with "cute" prints on them.
If you want to spend a lot of money and think you'd wear it (and if you're female, I guess...) a you could get a qi pao. The selection will be much better in Beijing than it might be elsewhere.
Maybe just look around the Friendship Store (北京友谊商店) for certain souvenirs?
posted by gemutlichkeit at 5:26 AM on June 1, 2014
I usually stock up on really cheap notebooks. They typically have grammatically incorrect phrases on them and cutesy cartoons, but if you look around a bit more you can find some decent-looking ones.
You can get hot water bottles with "cute" prints on them. Like, things printed with Doraemon and Hello Kitty and whatnot on them. Or a rice cooker that with "cute" prints on them.
If you want to spend a lot of money and think you'd wear it (and if you're female, I guess...) a you could get a qi pao. The selection will be much better in Beijing than it might be elsewhere.
Maybe just look around the Friendship Store (北京友谊商店) for certain souvenirs?
posted by gemutlichkeit at 5:26 AM on June 1, 2014
I like knock off bags for fun.
"It's a genuine knock off from China!"
posted by St. Peepsburg at 5:46 AM on June 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
"It's a genuine knock off from China!"
posted by St. Peepsburg at 5:46 AM on June 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Get some kicking Feiyues or Warriors.
Cheap lightning adapters to charge newish apple devices can be gotten, as well as other cheap cables and stuff.
How about a Chinese version of a western table-top game, or an indigenous game?
And you did say you got a lot of Xiaomi stuff, but are you prepared to preregister for the chance to maybe get to buy some of their newest stuff next Tuesday at 12:00 sharp?
posted by Aiwen at 6:43 AM on June 1, 2014
Cheap lightning adapters to charge newish apple devices can be gotten, as well as other cheap cables and stuff.
How about a Chinese version of a western table-top game, or an indigenous game?
And you did say you got a lot of Xiaomi stuff, but are you prepared to preregister for the chance to maybe get to buy some of their newest stuff next Tuesday at 12:00 sharp?
posted by Aiwen at 6:43 AM on June 1, 2014
Response by poster: Thanks for all the suggestions !
My rule about food was probably stupid yes, I don't really care about the custom or pollution, tea and sauces are good ideas !
I like the Warriors thanks Aiwen. I'll pass on the 49" TV in the plane.. but if I can find a Mi Wifi Mini before I leave it'll be nice.
I play a little bit of weiqi (Go) too if anyone know where to find nice board/stones/boal/...
Thanks again :)
posted by vayan at 9:28 AM on June 1, 2014
My rule about food was probably stupid yes, I don't really care about the custom or pollution, tea and sauces are good ideas !
I like the Warriors thanks Aiwen. I'll pass on the 49" TV in the plane.. but if I can find a Mi Wifi Mini before I leave it'll be nice.
I play a little bit of weiqi (Go) too if anyone know where to find nice board/stones/boal/...
Thanks again :)
posted by vayan at 9:28 AM on June 1, 2014
When I was in Beijing about 10 years ago, everyone smoked cigarettes with a picture of Chairman Mao on the the package. I wish I'd brought a pack back as a conversation piece.
posted by catalytics at 2:22 PM on June 1, 2014
posted by catalytics at 2:22 PM on June 1, 2014
Saffron. It's wildly expensive in the US, rock bottom cheap in China.
Caveat: My data is 10 years old.
posted by LonnieK at 7:41 PM on June 1, 2014
Caveat: My data is 10 years old.
posted by LonnieK at 7:41 PM on June 1, 2014
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posted by scruss at 4:49 AM on June 1, 2014