North of the BaBaoShan subway station lies an antiques and craftworks market where you can buy paintings and calligraphy works, porcelains, and wooden articles. Shop 1007 offers an unusual sight of root carving works. These decorations will compliment your distinctive aesthetic standard.

Root carving, also called the ‘art of root’, combines the natural beauty of tree root and the creative power of the artist.

Stepping inside this universe of oddly shaped root sculptures, I wondered who could possess such insight as to select these miraculous roots. The shop keeper greeted me and invited me to have a cup of tea, sitting down at a unique wooden table.

Over the past 20 years, Mr. Ma has collected a great number of root sculptures. As wanted to share his treasures with more people, he opened this shop in 1996.

He was especially proud of one of his works. It was called ‘Shen Long’, or ‘Devine Dragon’ in English. The dark-colored wooden dragon looked so vivid that the head, the beard, and the curling body could be seen clearly. I could not but marvel at both the natural magic, and the human craftsmanship.

Looking around, I couldn’t help asking how Mr. Ma could collect so many incredible root sculptures. He smiled and noted, “You can find out beauty everywhere as long as you observe carefully.”

Mr. Ma will help you ship the one you selected.

What I appreciated:

Rare root sculptures

What customers appreciate:

Rare root sculptures

On my visit to the fifth floor of Bairong World Trade Center, a shop full of decorations reflecting rural people and the old Beijing image caught my eye. I didn't hesitate to step in.

A shop assistant greeted me and told me that this was the wholesale department of Xiangrong Art Studio. This venue features two rooms - one for pottery decorations, the other for paintings. All the works here are made by folk artists.

I liked their decorations, for they reminded me of the old Beijing. Some of their displays are miniature gates of the old Beijing courtyards. I spent my childhood in a traditional courtyard not far from Tian’anmen Square, so these miniature gates really brought back old memories. The grey bricks, the wooden gates, the gate piers, even the patches of moss, are all reminiscent of my old life long gone now. Miniature courtyard gates were priced at RMB 150 or 180.

A miniature village courtyard looked lovely too. The enclosure was built of stones, and on the front wall of the cottage hung strings of golden maize and red peppers. The villagers, made of pottery, looked quite happy in their simple clothes.

Each of their items is original and unique, so I bet you will not regret taking a visit to this outlet.

What I appreciated

Folk art, original design

What customers appreciate

The old Beijing style, and rural style

Known as the "health-giving tea" and "beauty-slimming tea" in China, Puer tea is something you won't regret trying out. This famous tea from the Yunnan province of southern China gives you both taste and health benefits.

For tea-loving tourists, the large Yunnan Pu'er Tea Market offers convenient location near the Tian'anmen Square. It is here on the second floor where I found Leyuanyu Pu'er Tea Shop.

The shopkeeper, Mr. Wang, warmly invited me to sit down and sample their fermented and unfermented teas. Decorated with unique items from the hometown of Pu’er tea, Leyuanyu provided me a great tea-tasting experience. The stone elephants, wooden decorations, and green plants soon led me into a relax state. Fermented tea looks red, and tastes kinda sweet. Unfermented tea looks like amber. They taste somewhat bitter at first, but give a sweet after-taste.

Mr. Wang said all their Pu'er tea comes from naturally grown trees without any human interference. They offer two famous brands: "National Chinese" and "Image of Washan Mountain". The former has won many prizes in Pu'er tea competitions.

Looking around, I found a wide variety of compressed Pu’er tea on display. The compressed nature makes them easy to carry. Some even come in nice small packages fit for presents or souvenirs. Prices are reasonable. One particular 250g "Tea Horse Ancient Road Pu’er Brick Tea" cost only RMB 50, for instance.

What I appreciated

Quality Pu'er tea, a wide variety to choose from

What customers appreciate

Prize-winning Pu'er tea, natural and health-giving tea

Paper-cuttings are pictures cut from paper, using scissors or blades. It has been around in China for about two thousand years. People generally paste these patterns on windows, lanterns, or doors to express the feelings of joy and life values. They look both beautiful and interesting, and are widely popular among Chinese.

On the north side of Di’anmen East Street, a paper-cutting shop recently opened. Its name, Jinyi, means ‘Golden Art’ in English.

When I stepped into the shop yesterday afternoon, the shopkeeper Mr. Zhao greeted me at once. He hails from Yuxian, a county near Beijing nicknamed ‘the village of paper-cuttings’. Mr. Zhao’s grandpa started making paper-cuttings, and now Mr. Zhao is the third generation in the family business.

He told me that a single paper-cutting usually features just one color, but can be layered to have a variety of patterns. Take the piece that depicted cows grazing on grass, for instance. You can see four colors, one on top of another: yellow, brown, green and black. This elaborate work, which cost 480 yuan, required four times the work of a single piece.

They also have small items ideal for gifts or souvenirs, like a set of 12 Chinese zodiac animals which opens up like a pamphlet (RMB 10). A finely-cut miniature Emperor’s robe cost only RMB 3. They even have paper portraits of Einstein and Mona Lisa.

Mr. Zhao added that there will be an artisan making paper-cuttings on spot every day. Customers can learn the basics of the art free of charge. They also take custom orders.

What I appreciated

Folk handicraft, elaborate paper-cut works

What customers appreciate

Traditional works of art by hand, superb workmanship

Purple clay from the county of Yixing is considered the best natural material for making tea sets. Their purple clay teapots can abundantly release your tea's aroma and keep it from going tasting bad better than any other material.

On my visit to Chayuan Tea City at the south end of Maliandao Tea Street yesterday afternoon, I found some user-friendly purple clay tea cups in a shop (No. A2-10) named Qingyi, which literally means "Affection" in English.

As I set my eyes upon the tea cups shown on the shelves, a shop assistant started telling me about the twelve Chinese zodiac animal cups originally designed by the shopkeeper, Mr. Chen.

I picked up a chocolate-colored one with a miniature rooster on the cover. When I opened the lid, to my surprise, I found a purple clay interlayer stuck in the middle. Inside stood another miniature rooster. This layer has many small, round holes that allow tea to pass through and keep the leaves at the bottom. So don’t worry about accidently drinking any leaves.

Prices for all of their tea cups range from 20 to 120 yuan. For teapots, the prices vary greatly by quality, from 50 to 16,000 yuan. In addition, you can find a variety of tea ceremony accessories, and some famous Chinese teas too.

Another middle-aged shopkeeper used to be a tour guide, and can speak English.

What I appreciated

Purple clay tea cups originally designed by shop keeper, reasonable prices

What customers appreciate

User-friendly purple clay tea cups, Chinese teas and tea sets

What a pity it is if a tea lover doesn't have a good purple clay teapot! For this teapot accentuate and preserve the aroma of your tea, bringing out its full taste. It does this through tiny, invisible pores which allow air to freely flow, and for the flavor to sink in. The longer a purple clay teapot is used, the sleeker and brighter it looks.

Yesterday, on the fifth floor of Bairong World Trade Centre, I found a nice place carrying both purple clay and porcelain tea sets. The purple clay tea pots on a shelf come in brown, chocolate, and green hues. Most of them are sold for RMB 50 to 300. Higher end pots were made by masters with their personal certificate.

Other purple clay products include cups in various sizes and small animal decorations.

They also carry a wide variety of porcelain tea sets. Although not as good as purple clay when it comes to tea-making, these tea sets do look more exquisite for decoration purposes. Most come in gift boxes. The most appealing one to me was a box containing a pot and four tea bowls. Combining both purple clay and porcelain, they also have an antique feel with various cracks. Don’t worry. These cracks are made by design and won’t break. Each set costs about RMB 45.

The shop owners have much experience with foreign customers, so communication is not a problem.

What I appreciated

Purple clay and porcelain tea sets, reasonable prices

What customers appreciate

Elaborate tea sets, many designs for selection

As a province with many ethnic minorities, Yunnan specialties have distinctly ethnic characteristics. And I had a look at many of them yesterday afternoon, when I found a small Yunan specialties shop inside the East Third Ring.

Cloth hand bags hanging on the walls greeted me as I walked inside. I took a close look, and saw that they were handmade by Yunnan locals. Further inside there were goods on shelves classified into different sections: liquors and fruit juices, Pu’er tea, ethnic foodstuff, etc.

What impressed me most about Yunnan liquor was the packaging. The liquor came in a bamboo tube, and a 500g bottle sold for 55 yuan. Another kind was purple rice liquor came in a thinner bamboo tube. A 250g bottle cost 28 yuan. Even after one finishes the drink, the bamboo tube can still serve as a decoration.

The Pu’er teas there were shaped into cakes and bricks. Among them, a tea brick appealing to me was called ‘Cultural Revolution Brick’ (250 g, 110 yuan). The picture on the white wrapping paper depicts the red guards of that period (1966 - 1976). Also on sale were fermented and unfermented tea cakes.

Dried rice noodle was a popular item in the shop, used for making the famous ‘Cross-bridge Rice Noodles’. Other foods included wild edible mushroom, natural lucid ganoderma, and preserved vegetables. All of them were inexpensive.

What I appreciated

Various local products from Yunnan, inexpensive prices

What customers appreciate

Yunnan specialties, catering to common people

At the southwest corner of Hou Hai, a popular tourist area, lies a small shop, carrying the local products from southwest China’s Yunnan province. The façade of the shop is reminiscent of Old Beijing, with grey bricks and a yellow signboard hanging above the door.

As soon as I got into the shop, I noticed some Pu’er tea shaped into round flat cake. It’s called Bing Cha, or cake tea. The brands are all some of the best, such as Da Yi and Long Sheng. Prices for these healthful tea range from 68 yuan to 268 yuan each. Also on display are gift boxes of Pu’er tea, which is a popular gift item.

Before there was instant ramen, there was "Cross-bridge Rice Noodles", a famous dish in Yunnan, where all the ingredients are mixed into the noodle soup right before it's served. The shop sells the rice noodles used for this dish at 6.5 yuan per 500 g.

Another thing that caught my eye was the Bamboo Tube Liquor. The particular liquor had a beautiful bamboo tube packaging, and cost 48 yuan for the 1 liter bottle.

Other goods on sale included local snacks like roast beef and preserved vegetables.

What I appreciated

Characteristic Yunnan specialties

What customers appreciate

Yunnan local products, local features

As a tea lover, I dream of tasting all kinds of good teas from all over the world. If you're like me, then make sure to visit the famous Maliandao Tea Street, the largest collection of tea vendors in northern China.

A few days ago, on the basement floor of Beijing International Tea Centre, I found a franchise selling quality Taiwan tea. The shop is called "Taiwan Best Tea". 

The tea comes from four major tea plantations in Taiwan's Grand Ali Mountain Tea Planting Area. These mountains over 7,000 feet above sea-level, and covered by clouds and mists. The name "Taiwan High Mountain Tea’ really describes the teas in the area. The entire process of gathering leave is by hand, 100% natural.  

Taiwan High Mountain Tea belongs to the Oolong tea group, which is somewhere between green tea and black tea. The soup is emerald green, tastes aromatic, and has a long, subtle sweet after-taste. If you sip carefully, you should feel carefree and happy. 

Each tea package contains two 150g bags. Prices vary from RMB 880 for "top-quality 888", RMB 680 for the "special grade 878", and RMB 480 for "preferred 868". Gift boxes are available upon request. 

What I appreciated
Taiwan High Mountain Tea, high quality guaranteed 

What customers appreciate
Credible top quality tea from Taiwan

On my visit to Baigong Handicrafts Museum recently, I discovered a paper-tearing shop on the second floor, which made me gasp in admiration for the dexterous hands of paper-tearing masters.

Paper-tearing, originated more than 1,500 years ago, is a branch of the paper-cutting art. Compared with regular paper-cutting, this art looks more original and more improvised, reminiscent of the Chinese traditional brush painting. A paper-tearing artisan tears the paper into an imagined design following his inclinations.

The shop owner, an elderly woman, is a master of this art. She told me she has been in love with paper-tearing since her childhood days. Today she is very renowned, and frequently asked to make head portraits for international celebrities. With the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, she even made paper-tearing portraits for Jacques Rogge and Juan Antonio Samaranch, current and former Chairmen of the International Olympic Committee.

Among the works on display, I saw many familiar figures. Chairman Mao’s portrait was one of many historical figures made. I also saw works depicting ladies in the classic Chinese literature, Dream of the Red Mansion. In addition, you can find different paper-tears of each of the 12 traditional Chinese birth-animals. All above paper-tears cost RMB 40 each.

What I appreciated

Delicate paper-tearing works, skillful workmanship

What customers appreciate

Traditional Chinese handicraft, outstanding artisanship