Shopping in Guilin and Yangshuo

Known internationally for its river and mountain scenery, mysterious caves and grotesque rocks, Guilin has enjoyed the reputation of having the country's most beautiful scenery for hundreds of years. Guilin's local products and handicrafts include China sea pearls, Chinese landscape paintings, fermented bean curd, medicinal materials, paper umbrellas and artistic pottery and porcelain.

Where to Shop in Guilin and Yangshuo

Zhengyang Pedestrian Street

Zhengyang Pedestrian Street is at the back side of center square. The total length of the street is 666 meters, which means good fortune in Chinese. The shops along the street decorated with Chinese ancient styles and classic European styles are very pleased to walk around. This popular shopping district consists of many fashion brand shops, night clubs, hair salons and restaurants.

Guilin Niko Niko Do Plaza

Niko Niko Do, the biggest shopping mall in Guilin is located on the zhongshan road, the center of downtown. It has 9 floors include the underground food supermarket. This plaza sells good quality of clothing, bags, shoes, cosmetics and electronics with famous brands.

• Add: 37 zhongshan middle road
• Business hours: 9:00 am—10:00 pm
• Open Hours: 9:00am-9: 30pm
• Tips: No bargain

West Street in Yangshuo

West Street is the best-known and oldest commercial center in Yangshuo. Lively shops, booths and makeshift markets are packed in along the pedestrian walkways throughout the day. If you are looking to take home a great souvenir filled with local charm, start at the Yangshuo West Street to find the most unique and fun items. Don’t be alarmed by vendors wanting to haggle prices. This is the standard practice and if you are friendly, respectful and quick on your feet, you might just score that special something well below the original amount.

What to Buy in Guilin and Yangshuo

Chinese Landscape Painting

Chinese Painting is one of the oldest art forms in the world. It is called as guó huà (国画) in Chinese, literally referring to national painting. Different to western styles of art using oils, Chinese painting uses brushes dipped in black or colored ink similar to those used for calligraphy. Most paintings are made on Xuan papers (Chinese art paper) or silk so that they can be taken away as scrolls for hanging. Paintings on walls, screens, lacquer wares and certain other mediums are also often seen.

Chinese landscape painting is one of the most popular styles among both the Chinese people and foreigners. It is also known as the highest form of Chinese painting. There are two major classical styles of landscape painting based on the two major landscapes types of China. Artists in the north create paintings of towering mountains, whereas artists in the south paint rolling hills and rivers in tranquil landscapes.

The unique and beautiful Guilin landscape has inspired many painters since the time of the Tang Dynasty and many people paint the amazing views on different Mediums. Guilin landscape paintings have been favored by some USA presidents, such as Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. You can wander around Xicheng night market in Guilin City center where many local vendors create impromptu paintings on T-shirts, mirrors, paper fans and bronze, etc. If you are looking for fine art, there is no shortage of quality painting workshops. What we recommend is the Calligraphy & Painting shop (Guangxi Normal University Art Shop). Most art in the shop is created by important and famous artists, and there is also a selection by local art students.

Guilin specialties

The weather in Guilin is humid and hot much of the time, with an average temperature of 18.9 ℃ and an average sunshine duration of 4–5 hours per day. The average relative humidity is 73–79 percent. Food and plants are greatly blessed by the climate, and thus there is no shortage of local specialties.

Chilli Sauce

Because of the climate, Guilin people are likely to have spicy food. Chilli sauce（桂林辣椒酱） is frequently used with noodles dishes and, which is also one of the three most popular and famous local specialties. The ingredients for chilli sauces are generally chilli peppers (of course), mashed garlic or fermented soya beans, and salt and wine. It will be stored for several weeks before being ready. Most sauces are packed in a glass bottle or wooden bottle.

Sanhua Liquor

Sanhua Liquor（三花酒） is the second well-known local specialty. This crystal liquor tastes soft and refreshing and has a pleasant aroma. Some local people like to drink it in the winter to warm themselves up. What makes Sanhua Liquor special is the water from the Li River under Elephant Trunk Hill and the fact that it is stored for two years in the caves of the hill. The cave is especially good for wine storage because it is warm in winter and cool in summer.

Fermented Bean Curd

Besides Chill Sauce and Sanhua Liquor, the seasoning Guilin Fermented Bean Curd（桂林腐乳） is also very popular with the locals. Guilin people especially like to cook vegetables using Guilin fermented bean curd, which makes the dish much more delicious and gives it a reddish color and delightful smell. The ingredients a comprised of high-quality soybeans, wine, pepper and natural spices. Often they are packed and saved in glass or wooden bottles for sale.

Food for Drinks

Luo Han Guo (momordica fruit 罗汉果) is a local fruit mainly produced in Yongfu County, Guilin City. Due to the special growing requirements, 70 percent of the world’s Luo Han Guo is produced there. It can be eaten fresh, but most are dried and saved for a long time. Indeed, dried Luo Han Guo is most popular on the market, as they are used in traditional Chinese medicine due to their high nutritional value. The simplest way to have Luo Han Guo is to put a dried one in hot water to make sweet tea, which is good for relief against the summer-heat and for a sore throat.

Sweet-scented osmanthus tea （桂花茶）can be seen everywhere in Guilin city when autumn comes. Its pleasant smell is long-lasting. Sweet-scented osmanthus Tea has a wonderful taste and is good for your throat, headaches and cough relief. It is especially good for older people.

Food for Snacks

Since Guilin abounds with osmanthus, locals make the most of its flowers. Sweet-scented osmanthus cake (桂花糕) is made with sugar, osmanthus and glutinous rice flour. With a history of over 300 years, it is tasty and refreshing. The cakes are made into rectangle shapes and packed in paper boxes.

Dried Lipu Taro Slice （荔浦芋头条）. Taros are very popular local products mainly cultivated in Lipu County, Guilin City. Dried Lipu Taro Slices are white and purple in color; it tastes quite sharp and has a strongly smell of taro.

Handicrafts

Just as with any other tourist spot in China, handicrafts are popular items here in Yangshuo as well. Booths filled with of Tibetan silver, Yunnan dresses, Dong embroidery and tribal textiles line West Street. If you are feeling a little overwhelmed, which is to be expected, start your hunt at the Dong Xi Fang Shop and go from there. Take your time as your stroll through all the handicrafts, compare prices and don’t give in to heavy-handed hawkers right away.

Mask and puppets

For a colorful and unique token from the city, look for brightly decorated puppets and masks hanging in just about every storefront. Whether they are big or small, expensive or cheap, all of the handicrafts are handmade and very unique from one another. Wooden masks are cheerfully decorated and puppets are usually dressed in traditional, local costume. They are great buys for both kids and adults alike.

Painted Fans

Beautifully painted fans remind visitors of the era when the first westerners explored the vast Orient. Made from thin paper and bamboo, these fans have elaborate landscapes and calligraphy writing delicately painting onto their surface. Just as with the masks and puppets, it doesn’t matter the price, you can always be sure that you will get a unique and individualized fan. Look for vendors selling the fans along the Li River and by the stands for incoming boats from Guilin. Be careful when handling and packing up these souvenirs. They are delicate and may wear easily over time.

Image Painting T-shirt

T-Shirts are the tried and true souvenirs from any trip. But here in Yangshuo, the typical tourist T-Shirt is a little different. Booths specializing in image painting t-shirts actually paint your own picture right on the material. They draw your image, or any image you would like, on the shirt of your choice. If anything, it will certainly make for a very unique gift for a loved one back at home.