From China
April 16, 2005 11:03 AM Subscribe
I have a friend coming in from China in a few weeks and they offered to get me anything I wanted (cheap of course). But I'm stumped, what is really good that is made from China that I can ask for?
I brought back kites for some relatives (fun to play with, very cool to look at). Also silk. Some people purchase pearls there, as well. And finally scrolls (aka Chinese writing) although this takes some discrimination.
posted by Slothrop at 11:15 AM on April 16, 2005
posted by Slothrop at 11:15 AM on April 16, 2005
ibm laptops? ipods? isn't everything made in china these days?
posted by andrew cooke at 11:32 AM on April 16, 2005
posted by andrew cooke at 11:32 AM on April 16, 2005
One of those really cool harps from the movie Hero. A guqin, by name.
posted by stet at 11:50 AM on April 16, 2005 [1 favorite]
posted by stet at 11:50 AM on April 16, 2005 [1 favorite]
ibm laptops? ipods? isn't everything made in china these days?
Seriously, not a bad idea. Electronics purchased in the Pacific Rim are, without fail, less expensive and about 5 years ahead of what you can get in the States.
The caveat, of course, is that the opearting instructions and operating systems involved will all be in some f'r'nr language. Damn f'r'nrs.
posted by thanotopsis at 12:43 PM on April 16, 2005
Seriously, not a bad idea. Electronics purchased in the Pacific Rim are, without fail, less expensive and about 5 years ahead of what you can get in the States.
The caveat, of course, is that the opearting instructions and operating systems involved will all be in some f'r'nr language. Damn f'r'nrs.
posted by thanotopsis at 12:43 PM on April 16, 2005
Bamboo flooring!
posted by five fresh fish at 1:19 PM on April 16, 2005
posted by five fresh fish at 1:19 PM on April 16, 2005
what might be fun would be an obvious knockoff of something: Diar or Gocci clothes, a Ralex watch, an IBN computer... : >
(and i don't think dvds will play here--different regions)
posted by amberglow at 1:47 PM on April 16, 2005
(and i don't think dvds will play here--different regions)
posted by amberglow at 1:47 PM on April 16, 2005
cheap, excellent green tea.
flawless silk.
pretty good cashmere.
original Mao gadgets
amber, knock-off Chinese dvds are set to Region 0, no Macrovision
posted by matteo at 2:01 PM on April 16, 2005
flawless silk.
pretty good cashmere.
original Mao gadgets
amber, knock-off Chinese dvds are set to Region 0, no Macrovision
posted by matteo at 2:01 PM on April 16, 2005
How about a cheap suit or, better yet, a silk comforter?
posted by Staggering Jack at 2:05 PM on April 16, 2005
posted by Staggering Jack at 2:05 PM on April 16, 2005
ahhh
silk would be a fabulous gift--just enough for pillows or curtains or something.
posted by amberglow at 2:13 PM on April 16, 2005
silk would be a fabulous gift--just enough for pillows or curtains or something.
posted by amberglow at 2:13 PM on April 16, 2005
In China, they have these kick-ass thermos type things, which keep tea steaming for, like, days., with just a cork on top. No glass either, if memory serves. I still kick myself for not getting one when I was there.
posted by Snyder at 2:23 PM on April 16, 2005
posted by Snyder at 2:23 PM on April 16, 2005
I second a silk comforter! if someone brought me back a silk comforter from china, or anywhere else, I would tumble for them.
posted by mcsweetie at 2:36 PM on April 16, 2005
posted by mcsweetie at 2:36 PM on April 16, 2005
Sleeping under a silk comforter is like sleeping with the gods (or at least their bed coverings). Keep in mind, though, that they usually have a cotton cover and are not necessarily silky on the outside.
posted by Staggering Jack at 2:48 PM on April 16, 2005
posted by Staggering Jack at 2:48 PM on April 16, 2005
A mate got me a North Face hikers jacket that definitely was not Gore-Tex, though the logo, labelling and all else asserted it was. Be careful - seems that there's a fair amount of stuff that the chinese can fake. As i suppose, any one can...they're just the current masters of it.
posted by dash_slot- at 3:04 PM on April 16, 2005
posted by dash_slot- at 3:04 PM on April 16, 2005
My parents brought me back a mao type jacket ( short collar, dark blue ) from China and I loved it. One of the best jackets I have ever owned.
I slept under a silk comforter for years and can attest that it is pure heaven. Mine was silk on the outside with raw silk filling. i think Garnet Hill sells pretty much the same thing for around 200 dollars.
posted by vronsky at 3:27 PM on April 16, 2005
I slept under a silk comforter for years and can attest that it is pure heaven. Mine was silk on the outside with raw silk filling. i think Garnet Hill sells pretty much the same thing for around 200 dollars.
posted by vronsky at 3:27 PM on April 16, 2005
How about one of those funky instruments from Kung Fu Shuffle? Any instrument that shoots invisible weapons at people is cool in my book.
posted by graventy at 5:54 PM on April 16, 2005
posted by graventy at 5:54 PM on April 16, 2005
pretty good cashmere.
Be aware- Chinese cashmere has been known to be cut with angora.
Scratchy.
posted by IndigoJones at 5:54 PM on April 16, 2005
Be aware- Chinese cashmere has been known to be cut with angora.
Scratchy.
posted by IndigoJones at 5:54 PM on April 16, 2005
How about a wife?
posted by five fresh fish at 6:09 PM on April 16, 2005
posted by five fresh fish at 6:09 PM on April 16, 2005
A Chinese friend of mine surprised me with a beautiful Double Happiness table tennis paddle when she returned from a trip to the mainland. It's awesome.
posted by Scoo at 6:36 PM on April 16, 2005
posted by Scoo at 6:36 PM on April 16, 2005
Get the silk doona. You'll never look back, and they last 20-30 years.
posted by Wolof at 7:28 PM on April 16, 2005
posted by Wolof at 7:28 PM on April 16, 2005
Seriously, not a bad idea. Electronics purchased in the Pacific Rim are, without fail, less expensive and about 5 years ahead of what you can get in the States.
For the most part, electronics are not cheaper in mainland China. Yeah, you'd think with the fact that so much is manufactured there that they would be cheaper, but for the most part (except for low-quality stuff like a knock-off flash MP3 player) they're not.
posted by alidarbac at 7:55 PM on April 16, 2005
For the most part, electronics are not cheaper in mainland China. Yeah, you'd think with the fact that so much is manufactured there that they would be cheaper, but for the most part (except for low-quality stuff like a knock-off flash MP3 player) they're not.
posted by alidarbac at 7:55 PM on April 16, 2005
amberglow: (and i don't think dvds will play here--different regions)
In that case, why not ask your friend to bring you back a region-free dvd player? They go for about 50 bucks over there.
And, DON'T ask him for Maotai. Unless you want to poison someone.
posted by sour cream at 11:13 PM on April 16, 2005
In that case, why not ask your friend to bring you back a region-free dvd player? They go for about 50 bucks over there.
And, DON'T ask him for Maotai. Unless you want to poison someone.
posted by sour cream at 11:13 PM on April 16, 2005
cheap dvds are pirated dvds. I have no moral qualms about them but would advise against going through customs with them, espcially under the current DCMA regime.
posted by randomstriker at 1:10 AM on April 17, 2005
posted by randomstriker at 1:10 AM on April 17, 2005
I went through customs with a few 'cheap' DVDs (5) and a friend went through with 50. We were told ALL DVDs in China are pirated. Our Chinese hosts advised us to take them out of the cases. Leave the cases in China and carry the DVDs interspersed with CDs in a CD booklet. We mostly bought Chinese movies that wouldn't be available here in the US.
And yes, many things seem to be knockoffs even though they have all the correct appearances. I bought a pair of Pumas for $20 that have very hard soles and didn't appear anywhere on Puma.com. My friend bought some retro Air Jordans, which also ended up having very hard soles, so we dubbed them Air Gordons.
posted by Slothrop at 6:46 AM on April 17, 2005
And yes, many things seem to be knockoffs even though they have all the correct appearances. I bought a pair of Pumas for $20 that have very hard soles and didn't appear anywhere on Puma.com. My friend bought some retro Air Jordans, which also ended up having very hard soles, so we dubbed them Air Gordons.
posted by Slothrop at 6:46 AM on April 17, 2005
I personally will be placing an order for a faux Rolex the next time my friend flies to China. But that's just me.
posted by MrZero at 11:11 AM on April 17, 2005
posted by MrZero at 11:11 AM on April 17, 2005
Dude... ask for a Mao pocket watch. My friend got one for me. Greatest. Gift. Ever. When someone asks you the time, you get to say, "The Chairman says,..." !!!!
posted by trinarian at 2:01 PM on April 17, 2005
posted by trinarian at 2:01 PM on April 17, 2005
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posted by SpecialK at 11:13 AM on April 16, 2005