Xiangyang Kit
Executive Summary
You
really can’t say that you’ve been shopping in
Xiangyang market—shopper’s haven, every tourist’s must-stop
destination!
You
really can’t say that you’ve been shopping in
Where exactly is Xiangyang market?
Xiangyang
market is located at the corner of
How do I get to Xiangyang market?
By public transport: Hop onto subway line 1 （地铁1号线）and
stop at South Shanxi Road （陕西南路） station. Exit from exit number 2（2号口）,
cross the roads to get to Number 2 food store and walk along Huaihai Middle
Road （淮海中路） till you reach
entrance number one.
Number No 2
food store
This is what you will see at entrance 1
Alternatively, keep walking till you reach the end, then turn left
at the crossroads of South Xiangyang Road （襄阳南路）and turn in at entrance 10
(where the 3 flagpoles are).
Taxi drop-off points:
You
may alight along South Xiangyang Road or Nanchang Road （南昌路）.
Taxi stands:
There
is a taxi stand along
The “Hows” of Xiangyang Market
How to shop at Xiangyang Market
Xiangyang Market operates on a system of first degree price
discrimination, i.e. hectic bargaining and relentless haggling. After
setting your eye on an item, ask the store owner for a quote and using the
quoted price as a point of reference, quote your desired price. Once you
and the store owner settle on a price, the item is considered sold. If
however you decide not to purchase the item after both of you have settled
on a price, please be prepared to receive a round of scolding. The
universal language here is the electronic calculator, so do not worry if
you cannot speak any Chinese at all. Simply tap in your desired price and
the store owner will tap in his/hers.
No
matter where you walk to, you will hear shop owners touting their wares using
very mutilated English phrases like “looka looka”, “watsch”, “handbaaag”, “ay,
ay come baaark”. The over zealous shop owner might start pulling your arm to
get you to go back to the store. Competition is stiff here with many stalls
selling almost exactly the same thing so service here isn’t too bad. If you
can’t find what you want at one stall, walk on and you may find something to
fit your needs exactly somewhere further down the lane. Shop owners here have a
vast network of
The Incredibles have set foot in Xiangyang too!
for
a product that you can’t find in a particular stall, ask around and you may
find a store owner who knows someone with exactly what you need.
If
you are hesitating whether to buy a particular item that you have set your eyes
on, my suggestion is for you to buy it, especially if you are not coming back
for a long time. Experience tells that what you see in the market today might
not make a comeback after awhile.
How to navigate your way through the labyrinths of
Xiangyang
Xiangyang
Market is a literal maze with rows of shops standing on both sides of tightly
squeezed footways. One way would be to walk along the rows of shops in the
sector on either side of Zhongyang Dadao (the row of shops with the widest
footway), row by row, until you reach the turning point of Zhongyang Dadao,
then navigate your way through each sector row by row. Alternatively, print out
this map and carry it along with you.
Map of Xiangyang
Please
refer to the appendix
How to bargain
In
every successful sale there is one reluctant seller and one willing buyer or
one willing seller and one reluctant buyer. The golden word to the art of
bargaining is “aloof”. So here’s a step by step guide to bargaining:
1.
After you have set your eyes on a particular item, ask yourself how
much you would pay for this item, say, X yuan.
2.
You can either ask for the item at this price straightaway or you can
ask the shop owner to quote you a price.
3.
Never pay more than 1/3 to ½ of the quoted price, even then ask
yourself if you are willing to pay that amount of money for the item.
4.
When asked to quote your price, quote an amount slightly below your
desired price, say X-5 yuan.
5.
Even if the shop owner is secretly willing to sell you the amount at
your quoted price, he/she will still try to squeeze out another 5 to 10 yuan
from you.
6.
Stand firm, but if all else fails and you particularly desire the item,
pay for the item at your desired price, X dollars.
7.
Or you could try walking away from the shop and see if the shop owner
calls you back. Often, if the shop owner stands on the footway and calls you
back, you have a good chance of getting what you want at your quoted price.
Tips for bargaining
1.
Act aloof and uninterested. Play the poker face.
2.
Alternatively, play the smiley, cheerful face. Try making friends with
the shop owner.
3.
Friendly bantering might get you your desired item at a cheaper price.
However, the occasional cheeky shop owner or tout might have a good laugh at
your expense with his double entendres.
4.
Shop with someone else and have your companion make a show of trying to
talk you out of the deal
5.
Always remember that there probably is another shop down the row
selling the same thing
6.
Try deciphering the shop owner’s body language. If he/she doesn’t
appear to be too keen on the deal, it might be better if you visit another
stall
7.
If you have already bought one item from the store, quote a lower price
for the next similar item you wish to purchase. If you fail to get a deal on
the lower price, try walking away without buying anything.
8.
The shop owner is more likely willing to compromise after you have
chosen your goods in the exact size and colour, however, be prepared to do some
re-selection at another store if the deal falls through
9.
If the shop does not have the exact size or colour that you want, you
can try asking for a cheaper price if you intend to buy what is on hand
10.
If you purchase more than 1 item, you can try getting a better deal by
quoting the price of all the items and knocking off the odd digit
11.
You know you are getting ripped off when the shop owner chases after
you and pulls you by the hand back to his/her shop
Common phrases used in bargaining:
1.
“My friend bought this item from your store a couple of days ago, store
(quote store number), right?”
2.
“I bought this at X yuan the other day”
3.
“The store down the row sells this at X yuan.”
4.
“I live here, I am not a tourist. I know this is too expensive.”
5.
“If you sell this to me at a cheaper price, we can build a long-term
relationship. I will tell my friends to come to your store.” And for good
measure, please take the store owner’s name card
6.
“My friend/wife/cousin is your regular customer and he said you’d give
me a good price, that is why I have come to you.”
7.
“I bought quite a few from you the last time I came here, you said
you’d give me a better price the next time I came.”
How to use these phrases
This
was how I got what I wanted at the market without paying too much more. Similar
scenarios are enacted over and over again in the market.
Scenario 1. Desired price: 70 yuan
Shopper:
How much is this item? (E.g. a soccer jersey)
Shop
owner: 180 yuan
Shopper:
That is too expensive. 60 yuan.
Shop
owner: This is good material. Looks good on you. 150 yuan.
Shopper:
No. 60.
Shop
owner: 130 yuan. Last price.
Shopper:
65. (walks out)
Shop
owner: Come back! 100!
Shopper
starts walking away.
Shop
owner: 70.
Shop
owner: Take it.
Deal
closed.
Scenario 2. Desired price 35 yuan per item.
Shopper:
How much is the tee shirt?
Shop
owner: 80 yuan
Shopper:
No. 30 yuan.
Shop
owner: Cotton. 80 yuan. This one (points to another shirt) 30 yuan.
Shopper:
Buy 2.
Starts
choosing sizes and colours.
Shop
owner: 2 for 120 yuan.
Shopper:
30. Store down the row sells 30.
Shop
owner: 2 for 100
Shopper:
Cheaper. Then I will come back again.
Shop
owner: 100
Shopper
walks out.
Shop
owner: 1 for 38 yuan. 2 for 76 yuan.
Shopper:
2 for 70 last price.
Starts
walking off again. Shop owner calls back 2 for 75. Shopper decides to purchase
items. Deal closed.
In
order to help you with your shopping and ensure that you do not get ripped off,
I have compiled a price list of some 150 items that are usually purchased in
Xiangyang Market. Price varies with quality, size and your bargaining skills so
I have included a price range for your reference, prices here are in RMB.
What you shouldn’t miss at Xiangyang Market
Bags-shoulder, handbags, purses, messengers, totes
Xiangyang Market is overflowing with bags of every size, shape and
pattern. Popular picks include the lesportsac range of zip purses to
handbags to shoulder bags. They come in varying patterns and are immensely
popular with the young. Taiwanese tourists have been known to go ga-ga over
them. For the more sophisticated shopper, you might want to take a look at
the knock-offs available at Xiangyang Market.
Lesportsac bags come in various
shapes, sizes and patterns
To
tell a low quality knock-off from a top quality overrun, look out for the
following:
·
Material quality. The low quality products use cheap, imitation leather
while the top quality products use genuine or top grade imitation leather.
Smell the product for the genuine leather smell. It should feel smooth to
touch.
·
Print quality. Some brands emboss their logo on their range of
products. The cheaper knock-offs do not have embossed logos while the top
quality ones do.
·
Pattern quality. Check for symmetry in patterning. A top quality
product should have its patterns exactly symmetrical. The pattern should also
not be fading.
·
Shoulder strap. Top quality products have smooth ended shoulder straps.
Frayed or rough straps are a tell-tale sign of low quality imitations.
·
Zips. Zips should have the brand name printed on them and should be the
correct colour (usually gold). Zips should not have scratches or tarnish on
their surface.
·
Inner printing. Top quality products usually have their brand embossed
in the insides of the product. Fading ink prints are tell-tale signs of a low
quality product.
These
tips also apply to wallets and other small leather goods.
Adventure/Hiking Bags
For
the adventurer, you might want to check out the wide range of hiking and
backpacking bags available. These bags are relatively cheaper but its quality
isn’t exactly fantastic. A common problem is that the bags are not waterproof
and do not come with rain covers. The material used is also of a rough, coarse
quality and the shoulder straps might put tremendous strain on your bag if not
adjusted properly. Do not expect to find backpacks with wire meshed backing or
outlets for your water pack here. Bags come in different sizes and capacity
ranging from 25 litres to 80 litres. Some larger capacity bags come with an
additional small haversack attached.
Watches
Almost
every store in Xiangyang sells watches. Watches often displayed to public eye
include digital ones for children and touristy Mao watches. Ask to see better
quality watches and the shop owner will show you those that he has kept hidden
in his shops.
Look
out for the following:
·
Alignment. Ensure that the numbers of the watch are properly aligned.
·
Hands. Shake the watch to see if the hands are properly fixed and will
not come off.
·
Glass. Check to see that the glass surface of the watch is fixed on
firmly.
·
Metal strap. Top quality watches have metal straps which will not be
easily scratched. Lay the watch on a flat surface. A top quality watch (grade
‘A’) will have its metal strap segments in line with one another. Low quality
knock-offs have straps with some segments taller than the others when lain
flat.
·
Surface. Top quality watches often have surfaces which have a pearl
like texture.
·
Leather strap. Feel it to check for the quality of the leather strap.
When
purchasing a watch, ask for the store owner’s name card in case the battery
falls flat a few days after your purchase. If you are buying a top quality
watch, make sure that it comes in decent packaging.
Clothing
Sweaters and Jackets
Favourites
include double lined jackets for men and ladies. Younger customers also tend to
go for pullovers. Sport jackets are also rather popular, especially with the
Japanese. While they were all the rage in 2004, they seem to have disappeared
from the market in 2005, save for a few stores.
Caps
The
average shopper will come across at least a dozen stores selling caps in the
market. Racing caps and Von Dutch caps in varying patterns are freely available
here. You might also want to pick up the souvenir F1cap specially designed for
sale during F1’s Shanghai stop in 2004.
Flamboyant Von Dutch caps are known to be very popular with the Koreans.
T-shirts, shirts and jerseys
Men
can find a whole range of T-shirts for casual wear here in the market. Souvenir
T-shirts are also available and it is quite easy to find one with an old
Chinese Communism design. Polo T-shirts are also easily available in men’s and
ladies’ sizes. Plain Polo tees have also proven to be very popular with foreign
tourists.
All things Chinese
No
matter which country you are from, it is almost inevitable that you purchase an
item of Chinese design. Cushion covers, table cloths, table runners, coasters
and champagne bottle holders are all readily available here. Check out the
chopstick sets in the market, they make a perfect gift for your friends and
family. You might also want to stock up for Christmas, just in case.
Things to note when shopping:
·
Check your items carefully because you have little rights for claims
·
Note that you may have some difficulty in getting your purchases
through customs, depending on how stringent the officials are in your home
country.
·
If the item you purchased is opened and you would like to have it
packed, ask the shop owner to pack it in a bag/box or bubble wrap it for you if
necessary.
DVDs
DVD
titles for American serials are not very up to date. On average it is a season
behind what is shown on tv in the US. Also, not all the dramas found in the
states are found on DVD here. Popular titles like Sex and the City, CSI and
Friends are easy to find. Prices here are more expensive than in the average
DVD store.
Recommended Stores
Store
number: C-21
Products:
Business Shirts, cuff links, ties
C-21 sells men’s long sleeved and short-sleeved business shirts. An
average shirt will set you back about 70 yuan, a little more if the shirt
allows for cuff links. A wide selection of business shirts awaits the
customer. Service is above
average
as shop owner tries his best to fulfill your needs. Cuff links of varying
quality and thus, prices are also available at the store.
Store
number: B 232
Products:
Chinese design souvenirs.
Store
number: 1 (Right in front of entrance number 1)
Products:
Chinese design souvenirs
If
you are looking for Chinese cushion covers, these two stalls are the best
places to go. Their cushion covers go for 5 yuan (B 232) and 10 yuan (B 1).
However, these stores are a little difficult to find and no bargaining is
allowed.
Store
number: C 70
Products:
Imported toys
This is the only store in Xiangyang that sells these toys. A
standing toy (25 yuan) comes in various animal shapes, ranging from rabbits
to lions and zebras. A hot favourite among females is the pink deer. Lions
and zebras are favourites with almost everyone. Musical boxes (80-100yuan)
and standing dolls (50-80 yuan) are also available. The store owner
however,
Standing Toy Standing Doll
is
a tyrannical old woman who would be very likely to chase you away if you try to
bargain too hard. There is a push cart at
Xintiandi selling similar items so you
might want to go there to take a look as well.
Store
number: C 130
Products:
Cartoon toys
This store has the widest variety of toys to amuse your child.
Prices are a bit steep here and you might have to do quite a lot of
bargaining. A favorite with foreign tourists. There is a panda bear plush
toy dressed in a Chinese costume sold here and would make a great gift for
your niece or nephew.
Store
number: C 144
Enquire
about DVDs within.
Store
number: A 107
A
good variety of bags here, including the very popular lesportsac bags. The owner,
a friendly Mr. Yang is an easy-going person who makes bargaining a relatively
easy task.
Insider’s Survival Guide to Xiangyang Market
A
trip to Xiangyang Market can prove to be exhausting for the average tourist so
here are some tips for you to survive your pilgrimage.
Best times to shop:
For
a relatively relaxing shopping trip, go on a weekday morning when the market is
not so crowded.
For
the very brave and adventurous, go to the market when it is raining. The market
will be almost empty save for touts and almost despondent store owners so
bargaining will be somewhat easier. However, walking through the market on a
rainy day is pure torture as the corridors are narrow and there is almost no
shelter.
If
you are looking for a cheap bargain and you already know exactly what you want
to purchase, go to the market an hour before closing time (around 8 p.m.), the
store owners are more willing to close a deal at a cheaper price. The golden
minutes of shopping are the last 15 minutes before closure. Good luck!
The touts
These are the people who hold pictures of watches and bags in their
hands and besiege you in an attempt for you to purchase products from
stores they recommend. Needless to say, they receive a cut from sales and
you will often find yourself paying relatively higher prices when you
purchase items with their help. You cannot avoid these touts but you can
get rid of them. Answer them with a firm “NO” when they approach you and
ignore them till they give up
Police Advice on touts
following
you around.
Normally,
if you want to purchase a top quality knock-off, you will probably have to ask
these touts to direct the way to the warehouse or shop where the wares are located.
This is probably the only way to get top quality knock-offs but please use your
own discretion and judgment to ensure your personal safety.
What to do if you find yourself ripped off
There
really isn’t much that you can do in such a situation, what you can do is go
back to the shop and talk it out with the owner and perhaps convince him into
throwing in some freebie. There is a zero chance that you can get a refund of
the difference so perhaps the only thing you can do is grin and bear it. Alternatively,
you might want to make a complaint at the complains booth at entrance 10.
Taking care of your money
Xiangyang
Market is often very crowded so do take extra care of your belongings and
valuables. If someone bumps into you, check that your valuables are still with
you immediately. Do not keep loose notes in your pockets as pickpockets have
been known to use tongs to fish these notes out. The best way is to keep your
money in the inner pockets of your clothes.
Take
care to avoid counterfeit notes, whenever you receive money in change, in
particular 100 yuan notes, do check to see if the notes are genuine. Hold the
note up into light and check for watermarks, you should see one of Chairman
Mao’s face. Feel the notes that you know are for sure genuine to get used to
the texture and compare it to the notes you receive.
Toilets
Unless
you are looking forward to a Chinese-style toilet with no doors and much less
privacy, do not visit the public toilets in the market itself. Visiting the
toilet near the Nan Chang Road entrance has been known to be a very nightmarish
experience, however the smaller toilets located around Xiangyang aren’t as bad.
If wish to skip the whole public toilet experience, take a shopping break and
visit one of the cafes nearby. If not, there is a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet
round the corner.
Meeting places
It is very easy to get lost in Xiangyang so it would be good to have
a meeting place if your group is shopping separately. A good meeting point
would be the resting area at entrance number 10, which is located at the
crossroads of
A good meeting place is entrance number 10
Most people know what is good inside the market but what they don’t
know is that there are things outside the market that are interesting too. When you are done shopping inside the market, walk out of one of the
entrances and walk along the exterior of the market. You might just find
something that catches your fancy! There is a shop selling all its wares at
a fixed price of 2 yuan and several clothes stores which are rather popular
with young ladies. In between shopping, you might want to rest your feet and go for a
quick bite or a meal. Here are some places that you might want to visit. A French café located at
The good things do not end in the market
Café Montmartre
Shatin
café and delicious cuisine (Sha Tian Xuan)
Along
Nan Chang Road
This
Hongkong restaurant serves authentic Hongkong style food and is patronized by
several Hongkong celebrities. The dim-sum here is recommended, for a meal, you
might want to try the Beef Hor Fun. The restrooms in the restaurant are rather
clean and are a good alternative to the notorious public restrooms in Xiangyang
Market. Prices here are reasonable and a decent meal for three would amount to
approximately 200 yuan.
Hainanese Chicken Rice Singaporean specialties are served here. Apart from its signature
Hainanese Chicken Rice, this restaurant also serves Curry Chicken and
Singaporean desserts.
Parksons
Shopping Center:
Located
just outside South Huangpi Road subway station, Parksons sells a good range of
products. It is also a good place to look for your favourite international
brands. If you feel like you are missing home, head on down to the supermarket
at basement 1 and take your pick of imported groceries.
Breadtalk
bakery is also located on the same floor. Its meatfloss bun and cheesecake come
recommended. For an Indian feel, try its curry naan.
Crossroads
Café, located on the fifth floor of Parksons Shopping Centre serves authentic
Singaporean food and is a favourite with many locals and Singaporeans alike.
For a taste of Singapore, try the Fried Carrot Cake. Prices range from 20-90
yuan. Draft Tiger Beer is also available at 80 yuan per jug.
Mister Donut Along A favorite with locals and foreigners alike. Donuts with different
flavours of icing are sold here at reasonable prices. Perfect place for a
rest after a long day of shopping.
But I still want to shop! Where do I go?
If
you’ve finished shopping in Xiangyang and you feel you haven’t had enough of
shopping, here’s a list of places where you might want to go:
Qi
Pu Road (Clothing Market)
Chenghuang
Temple
Nanjing
East Road
Dongjiadu
(Cloth Market)