Shopping in SW China

Kunming offers goods from all over China and most of the consumer goods you will find in any western country are easily available. The city has three branches of Walmart. Shopping is centred on streets such as Qingnianlu Commercial Street, Zhengyilu Shopping Street, Luosiwuan, and Zhengyi Road.

Next to the train station you will find Nan Yao Market which sells a variety of local products and handicrafts while Kunming's Flower and Bird Market also has antiques, paintings, jade and other stones, alongside the orchids and exotic birds.

Throughout Kunming you can find teashops selling the famous local Pu 'Ehr tea. This comes in the form of compressed bricks, sometimes shaped into decorative shapes and even chess pieces. Older matured teas can be incredibly expensive, especially in tourist shops, but younger teas can are more affordable. If invited to taste teas, check the cost first!

In the ethnic minority areas, there are many examples of preserved and dried foods such as mushrooms, teas and even dried-yak meat in the Tibetan areas. Please remember that many countries have restrictions on the import of certain foodstuffs, especially meat products. Similarly flowers and plant seeds are often forbidden.

Only larger stores and hotels generally accept credit cards and in local markets and on the street you are expected to bargain. Most vendors will speak at least enough English to let you know what price they hope for, or they will brandish electronic calculators to display the price. Take the calculator and key in your offer. Offer half at most! But with a smile.

The Bai people of Dali are expert at tie-dying and batik. Clothing and wall hangings are available from the many shops along what is known as "Foreigner Street" and on the streets from itinerant vendors in their traditional dress. Dali is famous for its high quality marble – so much so that the Chinese word for marble translates as Dali Stone. Various relatively cheap marble souvenirs such as ashtrays are easily available, but in recent years a number of more skilled artists have set up shop producing higher quality items. Pride of place in my kitchen goes to a beautiful, heavy marble mortar and pestle set purchased in Dali.

In Lijiang, the Naxi people are known for their silver ornaments. Traditional necklaces and hair accessories are the most common. The people are also known for their bronze cookware, such as kettles and pots. A unique souvenir of the Nazi people can be found in their clay figures and wall hangings, for which the Naxi are known, but one of the most popular buys is full ethnic minority costumes – you too can dress in the traditional clothing of the Naxi or Bai people.

In Shangrila, the ethnically Tibetan town offers typical Tibetan artefacts and souvenirs. Wooden boxes and bowls are popular, as are Tibetan knives. Personal ornaments such as silver necklaces, bracelets and rings make good souvenirs or gifts. Also on sale are traditional silver boxes known as kewu, used by Tibetan men to carry miniature statues of Buddha. These are worn around the neck or waist depending on size.