Great Shopping in China!

When people think of shopping in China, they often think of Beijing or Shanghai.

That's okay if you like jostling with lots of tourists and being hounded by touts!

However fewer Westerners in Chongqing means you can have a much more relaxed shopping experience.

Chongqing shopping is fun!

Join the locals shopping.

Chongqing people are very friendly and not pushy when you shop.

The sales people in the shop usually hover nearby without being overbearing. And when you are ready, start bargaining!

Jeifangbei

Jeifangbei is the main shopping area. It is a shopper's delight.

At the centre is the Liberation Tower or Clock Tower because it has a big clock on it.

Chinese Shopping There are four large pedestrian malls spreading out from the tower.

Down each mall there are multistorey department stores, boutique shops, cheap shops, markets, street vendors - anything and everything for sale.

Explore the many smaller streets. Don't just stick to the big shopping malls.

Clothes, jewellry, DVDs, electrical goods, restaurants, entertainment, nightclubs - all to be found in Jiefangbei.

My advice is to spend a couple of days just wandering around the area. You will find lots of delightful treasures, especially in the smaller streets and alleyways.

Jangbei

Jangbei is another excellent shopping area.

Chinese Shopping It is not as well known as Jiefangbei but my Chinese friends tell me it is even better. Same range of shops - but not as crowded.

It is just over the Jialing River from Jiefangbei.

Catch a taxi and have a look there as well. Great restaurants and also an excellent picture theatre.

Another great shopping area in Chongqing!

Fabric Market

In Jiefangbei near Chaotianmen (the port) is the Fabric Market. Check this out if you like making your own clothes.

Chinese Shopping You go down a steep set of steps into an amazing underworld of hundreds of small shops.

You could find all sorts of fabric for sale - wool, silk, cotton and a whole lot of other material.

The prices are good. I had four good quality suits made - each cost about $40 US.

However, they don't speak much English there - so either take a Chinese guide or use a lot of sign langauage. Write your price on a piece of paper - they will cross it out and write their price - then you do the same until you agree.

It is great fun!

Street Markets

There are lots of street markets.

Chinese Shopping Anything and everything can be bought such as clothes, food, jewellery and of course watches.

Be prepared to bargain. Sometimes they ask for a greatly inflated price.

Have a good idea of how much you want to pay. Don't be afraid to start low - sometimes about 25% of the initial price.