What to Buy and Where to Buy: A Practical Guide to Souvenirs and Tax Refunds

Recommended Categories to Buy

Tea

Chinese tea is classified by origin and processing method: West Lake Longjing (Hangzhou, best before Qingming), Biluochun (Suzhou), Tieguanyin (Anxi, Fujian), Pu'er (Yunnan, raw/shou), Da Hong Pao (Wuyi Mountains), White Tea (Fuding, Fujian).

• Where to buy: Direct stores at the origin > Brand specialty stores (Ba Ma, Ten Fu, China Tea) > Scenic area specialty shops. Prices at scenic area shops are often double.
• How to choose: If you don’t aim for "pre-Qingming" tea, pre-rain tea has a much better cost-performance ratio. Buying loose tea is more economical than buying gift boxes.
• Bring home: Tea is not a controlled item, and customs of most countries generally allow personal quantities (usually 1–2 kg is fine; check the regulations of the destination country).

Food

• Allowed: Yunnan flower cakes, Suzhou pastries, Beijing Daoxiangcun, Guangdong cured meats (vacuum-packed), Inner Mongolia beef jerky, Xinjiang nuts and raisins, Sichuan Pixian broad bean paste and hotpot base (note that solid hotpot bases are easier to carry than oily ones).
• Not allowed: Products containing meat, eggs, or dairy are prohibited in many countries (cured meats, salted egg pastries, meat mooncakes). Check customs regulations of the destination country before departure.

Handicrafts and Utensils

• Jingdezhen porcelain (Jiangxi), Yixing Zisha (Jiangsu), Suzhou embroidery and kesi silk (Suzhou), Yunjin brocade (Nanjing), lacquerware (Fujian, Chengdu), Thangka (Tibet, note whether it is hand-painted or a print).
• Antiques and Cultural Relics Reproductions: Exporting genuine artifacts is illegal; pay attention to reproductions labeled as "cultural relics".

Everyday Useful Items

• Small appliances, thermos cups, luggage, and paper products from Chinese brands are affordable and of good quality. Large supermarkets (Hema, Sam's, Wanda) are more reliable than scenic area shops.

Tax Refund

• Applicable to: Overseas tourists (including residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) with single-store, single-day purchases of 500 RMB or more in designated tax refund shops.
• Process: Show passport / Taiwan Compatriot Permit when shopping → Store issues a "Tax Refund Application Form for Overseas Tourists" and receipt → Complete the tax refund at the airport refund counter before departure.
• Tax Refund Rate: Regular goods 11% (after deducting agent fees, actual received is about 9%).
• Restrictions: Goods must be unopened, carried along, or checked out when leaving the country, and the departure date must not exceed 90 days from the purchase date. Some airport tax refund counters are only open during working hours, so check in advance.

Payment Methods

Large shopping malls, supermarkets, and brand stores generally support foreign credit cards (Visa/Mastercard), but small shops, markets, and scenic area stalls mostly only accept mobile payment or cash. In bargaining scenarios (antique markets, wholesale markets), payment is basically only in cash or bank transfer, so have cash on hand in these places.

Pitfalls to Avoid

• "Specialty Streets" at the entrance of scenic areas: Prices are high, quality varies, especially for items like "Tibetan medicine," "Miao silver," and "Hetian jade."
• "Free tea tasting" and "free tours": Often sales tricks, ultimately leading to high-priced purchases.
• Weight and Units: China uses "jin" (500 grams), not kilograms. Market prices are often quoted per jin, which is easy to miscalculate.
• Express Delivery: Large items can be sent via international courier (SF Express, DHL), but food and liquids have restrictions, and shipping costs may exceed the product value.