[jlync1]

Hello....

I am trying to figure out my budget for when I travel to China and one of the things I want to do while I am there is shop for Chinese crafts/future gifts that I can give to my daughter to help her connect with her country. Does anyone have any advice on "must haves" that I should look for? and also what these things might cost?

Thanks!
Jo

[Arlington1]

Hi,

Great question. I'd like to see some feed backon this question as well. My DH and I are hoping for a referral in April. We hope to bring back gifts which we can give her (him?) each year on his/her birthday/adoption day.

Although I haven't travelled for adoption yet. I have travelled to China. The prices are very good but you must watch the quality of the item. There are counterfeit/knock off items almost everywhere. i.e The tag may say Nike but its not.

That said you need to ask yourself, do you care?
I bought a watch for $2 US. It lasted two years before it broke. I bought "Teva" sandals (I knew they weren't real when I bought it) for $5.00. Again I wore them for two or three seasons. I bought some jewerly which I still don't know whether or not are really silver, jade or pearls but I didn't pay any more for them than I would have for costume jewerly in the US.

Keep in mind, that just because the piece ays "geniune silver" or 14K it may not be. Our tour guide told us of an old Chinese saying:"A man who believes everything he reads is worse than being illiterate"

There are govt stores which are more reliable but also much more costly.

The exchange rate when I was there was 8 yuan to 1 US dollar which helped a great deal. Also, you might want to know that unlike travelling to most places abroad the exchange rate is set by the govt and is the same at all hotels, airports, banks across the country.

[Sheba]

I am also looking into buying for our daughter while we are there. And thanks for the good information already. It sounds a little like Mexico. Be aware of where you are and they know we have know clue. I will just take my chances but am interested in hearing from people. I did find an awesome Chinese Cabbage Collector doll in chinese attire and that is already in here room. I know it is not from China but very nice.

Julie

[SofiasMom]

Actually I was disappointed in the shopping in Guangzhou since I come from a city with a large Chinatown. They had everything I could get here but of course it was mcuh cheaper (start practicing your bargaining skills!). I shopped in the little stores around The White Swan hotel, the Friendship Store and Guangzhou Department Store along with some "factories" that my guide brought me to. Some of the items you might want to purchase: pearls, jade, squeeky shoes, chinese pj's, silk jackets/dresses, maps, flashcards (great for decorating kids rooms), tea, tea pots, jade figurine of your child's zodiac animal, peasant/folk paintings, chopsticks, big thick calligraphy brushes, CD's of children's songs/lullabies. Actually you might want to go to some sites which sell Chinese items (www.chinasprout) to do some pre-window shopping.

If you go to Beijing, I highly recommend going to the Panjiayuan Market (Dirt Market) - an open air market where people from the countryside sell their stuff. Row after row and cheap (but you bargain for it - do not pay more than 50% of the asking price and expect to go 2-3 rounds). For my daughter's class I bought 20 (red & silver beads) braclets for less than $10. I bought 10 little tea pots for less than $10. There's also the Hong Qiao Market in Beijing - I enjoyed the top floor the most.

[terryb]

Don't know if these are "must haves" but they might be nice momentos:

-Your daughters' name in Chinese calligraphy...maybe you can find someone to translate your name and those of immmediate family as well
- Something with her Chinese zodiac
-Those silk padded jackets with embroidery (don't know the English name and can't spell the Chinese names...sorry!)
-The Chinese silk dresses with buttons that go up the side... (don't know the English name here either)

Unfortunately, I don't know how much these might cost.

Enjoy your trip!

[jfogle]

Congrats on your adoption! We were in China 7/03 to adopt our daughter. My favorite momento is a granite etching we had done at Jennifer's Place in Guangzhou (just outside the White Swan). If you have other children, take pictures of them with you as you will want one of all your children. Cost was $6-$20 depending on size.

We also bought some artwork from street vendors that was painted with ink in a bowl and their hands, fingers, etc. (no brushes). I'm not sure what you call it, but we paid about $30 for 3 nice size pieces and had framed in US.

You can buy a lot of Chinese stuff here, so we didn't get anything except "unique" items while in China.

Also look for paper butterfly or dragonfly kites. These were about 1/2 price in China vs. US. Jennifer's Place had everything you could dream of, and we did most of our shopping there since it was the last leg of the trip.

One big travel hint: Do not take your best clothing (except what you plan to wear on official adoption business). We packed our least favorite things (not worn out, just things we didn't wear often), had them cleaned, then gave them to hotel staff before we left. They loved getting the extra clothing, plus we had a large suitcase that we were able to bring home all the stuff we bought in.

As far as money, we took $8,000 cash and a VISA card. We brought home $1,500 and didn't charge anything. We were there 16 days and did all the tours, had great meals, etc. They gave us huge adoption group discounts everywhere we went.

Jacque

[KarenInCa]

Ive noticed that some ppl get the chinese pajamas and jackets for the younger girls, I was thinking the other day that I would really like to get an adult size for her when she is older. And also a jade bracelet for when she is older.

[terryb]

One more thing I forgot to mention you might like (especially if you keep your child's Chinese name) is a seal with her Chinese name:

http://www.goodorient.com/Seal-Carving-p-1-c-89.html

for examples. My parents (I think) had one made for me when they were in Hong Kong a while ago and it had a dog on the top - for my Chinese zodiac sign.

[Byrnes]

You need to get a chinese chop with her name on it. I we got ours at Jennifers Shop in Gaungzhou. They have the girls names in English and Chinese on the bottom and a carving of the zodiac sign on top for the year that your child was born in. My girls have really enjoyed playing with these. Jennifers shop has so many things once you walk into the back courtyard area. Clothing in all sizes.. all sorts of stuff and Jennifer and the people she works with are great.

[jlync1]

Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for all your great ideas!! I will have to check everything out. Now....here is the next question. I know I will be in Beijing as well as Guangzhou. where is the best place for shopping as far as deals go and which stores do your recommend?

Thanks!
Joanna

[NeshRoo]

I have been storing a list of ideas that I've seen parents post after they returned home from their trip. Here's a few ideas that I've heard other people mention (that haven't been mentioned yet):

children’s' books in Chinese and English
play outfits for our kids - not just the silk ones
little Chinese shoes, and bigger ones for her to grow into
lots of bookmarks as quick gifts
art work (esp. if it comes from the proveince where your daughter came from)

-NeshaRoo