Gifts and Accessories from the "Roof of the World"

When it comes to buying handicrafts and accessories from the land of Tibet, one should not miss Ping Gu Zhai in Xuanwu District. I loved the shop’s a large variety of everyday products from the Himalayan region, mainly the Tibet.

As I walked through their long exotic aisle into their well-lit showroom, I was amazed by their extensive array of items. Colorful prayer flags, rosaries, and prayer wheels only covered a small portion of their selection.

Sherry, the shop owner, told me that their tangkas—Tibetan scroll painting of the Buddha-- and carpets were all quite old. They were also more expensive than similar items in other Tibetan shops. For example, a twenty year old tangka was priced at RMB 3000. And it was not even their most expensive tangka. “Their originality and antiqueness make for them all worthwhile”, Sherry explained.

While their carpets and tangkas targeted collectors, most of their items were still priced for casual shoppers, for as low as RMB 10. Sherry and other 2 shop assistants spoke a little English, and were experienced in dealing with foreign customers. The shop also offered discounts to repeat customers.

What I appreciate

Great Tibetan handicrafts

What customers appreciate

Great Tibetan handicrafts, good service