Relaying a question from him, in fact. He’s going to be in and around Chengdu, Sichuan for a week, and he’s not sure what’s good to get there. I’m not all that informed myself, but I understand that buying electronics can be iffy.
So, suggestions, please - I’d love some whys and wherefores as well.
Chengdu! That’s just a stone’s throw away from me! It’s probably one of the biggest cities in the world that most people haven’t heard of. Anyway, Chengdu can be great fun. It’s one of China’s greatest eating cities, and Sichuan food is amazing, especially if you can stomach some hot peppers. Hopefully someone will take him out for hot pot.
I’m not sure what to buy, since I make no money. If he brings measurements, he might have time to get some Chinese dresses made up for his female loved ones.
I hope he has fun! PM me if you have any questions.
My husband came back with textile (pretty table runners, pashminas and the like) and lots and lots of pearl jewelry, from the simple to the expensive.
My father in law brings back DVDs and designer purses (not to sell; the women in the family love them.) My dad has brought back some nice “Rolexes”.
Don’t bother with the electronics. Seriously. They will work just enough to frustrate the hell out of you for a couple days and then stop working at all. Don’t bother with the cheaper “Rolexes”, either. They’re shite that don’t work, pinch the hair on your arm, and look about as real as Octomom’s lips. These are the ones that can be had in the $5-$10 range. Once you get up around $50 you start getting some pretty nice ones that won’t fool a jeweler, but they work well and look nice to me.
Tell him to start by offering literally about 5% of an item’s asking price. They think all Americans are filthy rich, or at least it’s an assumption that has never hurt them.
Don’t bring back excessive multiples of the same item, or you might run into trouble with customs.
originally posted by Cisco:
“Don’t bring back excessive multiples of the same item, or you might run into trouble with customs.”
That’s good advice. Customs enforces “Intellectual Property Rights” (IPR) laws. (Trademark and Copyright). Bringing in one fake Gucci purse and one fake Rolex is okay. More than one and they automatically think you sell the stuff at the swap meet on the weekends. Then they will seize them and also paw through your stuff every time you subsequently come through looking for more.
When my father was in the USMC in that region in the late 1940s, he stole a case of .45 pistols off a US Army train (the Marines used to conduct organized raids on army trains for supplies and during one of these sanctioned raids he stole the pistols for himself). Anyway, he buried them very near where your dad is going. If he could bring them back, that would be great.
Thanks for the replies, everyone.
I spoke with him after posting the OP, and he doesn’t think there will be all that much time for shopping, unfortunately. I’ll forward your tips anyway - I’m sure the company he’s there to do business with will allot some time for sightseeing and shopping.
Apparently they will mostly be around Xiling mountain, since he’ll be working with the ski resort there. I looked it up, and the jealousy is overwhelming. I wanna go too!
One of those cute lil’ orphans.
Obviously, he he should bring back this.
The DVDs a friend’s father picked up are just as bad. One movie got near the end, then skipped over a climatic scene to the very last shot, then skipped back again. The rest were no better.
One thing that is neat and fairly easy to pick up is a chop. Not a chop stick, but like a seal. If one goes to a tourist market, odds are fairly good that someone can transliterate one’s English name and carve a pretty cheap one on the spot.
Unfortunately, it’s been like nine years since I’ve been in Chengdu, so I can’t recommend a particular place to go… I wish I could remember the name of the kick-ass mapo tofu restaurant I went to, but it’s surely listed in the Lonely Planet. It is a meal that costs like, 75 cents, and is absolutely out of this world, though almost certainly your father would want to order the mild version. Come to think of it, it would help to bring a Chinese speaker to this particular restaurant…
ETA: It’s Chen’s Mapo Doufu Restaurant. Awesome.
I still have my chop from China as well as a beautiful teapot that I bought at a street market. Another thing I really liked were the items carved from stone (slate, I believe) - I have a small buddha and since it’s stone, it’s practically indestructible (unlike my teapot).
You know, I can’t confirm or deny this. He’s given us many DVDs (he goes several times a year on business) but I’ve actually never watched one, heh.
Also pyjamas, pokemon books, pearls, buddha, bells, candy and a rock!
A bride?
Nah, as mentioned before, Customs will think he’s going to sell them if he brings in multiple items. 
You beat me to it!
One thing I enjoy collecting is Chinese snuff bottles. There are some really beautiful scenes painted on some. But beware! One tourist trap tried to sell me one for US$150! I got one of similar quality for $5 on the street in Beijing, and the guy even wrote my wife’s name on the inside of it with a small tool, which meant he had to write backward!
