Yunnan Shopping Tips - Unique Souvenirs

Yunnan is known as a treasure house of natural resources and ethnic minority culture. Many unique items here cannot be found elsewhere in the world. It is also famous for its production of traditional Chinese medicine and medicinal herbs. The handmade crafts by ethnic minorities and the beautiful natural stones or jade in this province are worth buying, too. It is a well-known shopping location in China because each city and village has unique products that you don't want to miss.

What to Shop

Dai Embroidery

Dai Embroidery

Dai Embroidery, created by women of the Dai ethnic minority group, is famous for its high level of quality. Almost every Dai woman learns to make embroidery when they are very young, and this has been an integral part of the Dai ethnic minority's culture. Dai Embroidery is known for its unique patterns and beautiful and bright colors. The subject matter for the Dai Embroidery varies greatly. Birds, animals, flowers, and the five grains - rice, two kinds of millet, wheat, and beans are popular subjects for embroidery. Each subject has its own meaning, and these designs have been passed down for generations.

Dai and Bai Tie Dye

Dai and Bai Tie Dye

The Dai and Bai ethnic minority groups are famous for their tie-dyed cloth. Tie and sew the white cotton cloth with string and dip it into indigo ink. The tied and sewn part remains white, while the revealing part is deep blue. The patterns on the Dai and Bai tie-dye are mainly animals, flowers, Chinese dragons, phoenixes, and geometries. The dyed cloth can make many items, including tablecloths, clothing, bags and purses, hats, and even DVD cases. Indigo is the most traditional and frequently used color. Recently, other colors have been more common.

Wax Printing

Yunnan Province's many ethnic minority groups have developed a form of printing cloth that is unique. They use wax to make designs in cloth and make them into very beautiful products. The designs vary depending on the minority group. However, the more popular designs are animals, flowers, birds, and landscapes.

The dying technique is surprisingly simple. Apply the melted wax to the cloth with a knife. When the wax is cooled, dip the cloth into the dye. The part covered by the wax keeps away from the dye and will stay bright white. After the cloth is dipped in the dye several times and has reached the desired color, dry it. When the cloth is dried, scrape off the wax. Then, soak the cloth in hot water to remove the residual wax. The finished cloth has a beautiful pattern and has a multitude of uses.

Tengchong Jade

Tengchong Jade

Handcrafted jade objects occurred and became popular in Yunnan centuries ago and were sold throughout the world. Jade comes in a large variety of colors and qualities. Beyond them, Tengchong jade is famous.

For an artisan, creating a work of art on jade, one of the hardest stones in the world, requires many years of apprenticeship. Jade cannot actually be carved; it needs to be ground with diamond-grit tools. In ancient times, diamond dust was used to grind the jade manually, but now electric tools are used.

Jade can be made into many different items, such as jade broaches, pendants, earrings, seals, decorative ornaments, chopsticks, and much more. You can find numerous beautiful jade items in Tengchong, Yunnan Province.

Dali Marble

Dali Marble

The ancient city of Dali produces the most famous marble in China. The most common marble here is white with black streaking, which often appears to take on patterns. It's widely used in construction, such as floor tiles and inlay in furniture. Marble with particularly beautiful patterns is often framed and hung as a work of art. The black swirls in the marble can often, amazingly, look like landscapes, people, or animals. The marble from Dali Ancient City is so famous that the Chinese word for marble is literally "Dali Stone."

Yunnan Baiyao (White Medicinal Powder)

Developed in Kunming by a folk doctor in 1914, Yunnan Baiyao, also called the White Medicinal Powder, is a very famous traditional Chinese medicine. The medicine is made from many different medicinal herbs and is said to heal almost any kind of injury. It is believed that the White Medicinal Powder can cure gunshot wounds and puncture wounds, so soldiers would carry a box of this medicine. It is also said to be good for slow-healing sores, bug bites, and bleeding stomach ulcers.

Engraved Green Plums

The traditional food of the Bai ethnic minority group, Engraved Green Plums is unique to this area. Besides being delicious and beautiful, they are considered to have medicinal qualities. Dried green plums are engraved with various patterns and designs. The fruit is then soaked in a combination of salt, brown sugar, and honey. They can be preserved for many months, and they are a perfect combination of a work of art and a delicious snack.

Puer tea

Puer tea

One of the most famous teas in China, Puer tea, has been produced in Yunnan for centuries. The tea, after being picked, is dried before being pressed for storage. Traditionally, the tea was compressed into a brick shape for easy storage and shipping. Now, new shapes are preferred, such as disks, bowls, and mushrooms.

Yunnan was one end of the famous Ancient Tea Horse Trail, and the tea shipped along the trail was all Yunnan Pu'er. Pu'er Tea has a rich flavor and aroma, and the color of the tea liquor is maroon. One reason that Pu'er Tea has become so popular is that it ages. Like a fine wine, Pu'er Tea improves with age, and older Pu'er Tea fetches tens of thousands of dollars. You can even buy Pu'er Tea as an investment.

Where to go Shopping

Kunming:

NanYao Market: The largest open market in Kunming. This market deals primarily with local handicrafts. It is a wonderful place to pick up souvenirs.
Location: Located beside the railway station, and the long distance bus station, Beijing Road, Guandu District, Kunming

Yunnan Curio Building: The four-story building located on Nanping Lu Street is where you buy artwork and handicrafts.
Location: Wuhua District, Kunming

Bird and Flower Market: This kind of market offers many exotic birds, pets, and beautiful flowers you might haven't seen before, as well as many curios, artwork, and local handicrafts. It's a must-see destination in Kunming if you want to get a glimpse into local people's daily lives.
Location:
Kunming Dounan flower market: Dounan Village, Chenggong County, Kunming
Yongdao Bird and Flower Market: Guanghua Street, Wuhua District, Kunming

Kunming Department Store: The shopping center offers all sort of modern commodities.
Location: Located on Dongfeng Xi Lu Street

Qian Cun Department Store: This department store offers daily necessities and is quite popular with tourists.
Location: Located on Renmin Zhong Lu Street

Dali City and Dali Ancient City:

Foreigner Street: The ideal place to pick up souvenirs, Foreigner Street in Dali Ancient City offers many shops selling local specialties and handicrafts. Home to the Bai ethnic minority group, many Bai ethnic crafts can be found here.
Location: Located on Huguo Road, in the ancient city of Dali, starting from Yunnan-Tibetan Highway

Square Street Supermarket: This chain supermarket sell food and snacks and some local specialties.
Location:
Xiaguan store: Located in No.13, West Street, Xiaguan, Dali City
Zhenxing store: No.43-46, Zhenxing Street, Xiaguan, Dali City
Fuxing store: No.342, Fuxing Road, Dali Ancient City, Dali City

Wholesale Markets: There are several wholesale markets in Dali City. They are great spots to pick up small items and souvenirs at cheap prices. There is a vegetable wholesale market also located in Dali City, which can be reached by taking the number 6 bus.
Location:
Wholesale market 1: Located on Xingsheng Road, Xiaguan, Dali City
Wholesale market 2: Located on Fuxing Road, Dali Ancient City, Dali City

Lijiang Ancient City:

Square Street: The most bustling area of the city, Square Street, offers something unique for everybody. The street is famous for having a huge selection of shops selling local handicrafts and art and is a must-stop spot for visitors.
Location: At the center of Gucheng District, Lijiang

Bunong Bells: Named after the item, Bunong bells, this store is the best place to buy Lijiang's famous Bunong bells. These bells are made manually and have unique appearances. In China, you can find the Bunong bells only in this store.
Location: On the east side of the ancient stone bridge of Lijiang Old Town.

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