Xi'an Shopping - Best Souvenirs to Buy and Where to Buy
As an important city in northwest China, Xian has developed rapidly in economy in recent years, where the main shopping centers are scattered on Jiefang Road, Dongdajie Avenue, and Nandajie Avenue. In addition, a number of antique & curio markets are also available in Xian, highlighted by Xian Antique Market and Shuyuanmen Archaized Market, and you can purchase terracotta warrior copies and tri-colored glazed potteries of the Tang Dynasty in Xian as well.
Top Souvenirs to Buy in Xi'an
Find below a list of the best souvenirs to buy in Xi'an:
Chinese Paper-Cut
Paper-cutting is an ancient folk art in China. This traditional art form with special patterns can be dated back to 2000 years and is loved by people at home and abroad. It is one of the most popular traditional arts in China.
The themes involved in Chinese folk paper-cut art are diverse and colorful. They vary from subjects in daily life with which people are familiar to the future life about which people dream. These subjects teach us the simple and pure feelings of working people. Papaer-cut works are available on sale in art shops in Xian.
Replica of Terracotta Warriors and Horses
Replica of Terracotta Warriors and Horses entombed in the First Emperor's Mausoleum are designed according to these digged out from the tomb. The replica looks almost the same with the real things.
Tri-Colored Glazed Pottery of the Tang Dynasty
Tri-Colored Glazed Pottery of the Tang Dynasty or Tangsancai was the essence of Tang Dynasty art. In the ancient Tang Dynasty over 1,000 years ago, people glazed tomb figures, and pottery with three main colors, red, green, and yellow. So later, people called these multi-color glazed items Tang San Cai.
The yellow, green, and red glazed ceramics are fired at high temperatures to give the finished porcelain an amazing colorful pattern. Products slimmer in shape were fired during the Jin Dynasty, and fuller ones were popular during the Tang Dynasty.
The most popular subjects are the horse, camel, and human figures.
Local Farmer Painting
Focusing on the countryside life with line drawings of people, animals, flowers, and birds these paintings are full of bold imagination and lifelikeness, colorful but simple. They mix roughness with details, which makes them unique.
Shadow Puppet
Shadow Show also named as Light Shadow Show is one of the Chinese traditional dramas, regarded as "forefather of film". According to historical record shadow show appeared during the Han Dynasty (200BC), peaked in Sui, Tang and Song Dynasty and introduced to the west in the 13th century. During the Song Dynasty, actors gave vivid plays adapted from historical stories through this kind of show. What's more, there also had shadow show parties, such as "Huige Party" in Hangzhou during South Song period. Shanxi is the cradle of shadow show which was especially prevailed in the middle of Shanxi such as Sian.
The original shadow puppet was made of wooden but nowadays leather is used to replace wood in shadow puppet making. Shadow puppets are available at certain art shops in Xian to purchase.
Grass Knotwork
Grass weaving mainly takes cornstalk tegument as raw material using various ways to make up many kinds of products. The most commonly three ways of grass weaving are plane knitting, twisting, and plaiting.
Top Places for Shopping in Xian
As an important city in northwest China, Xian has developed rapidly in economy in recent years, where the main shopping centers are scattered on Jiefang Road, Dongdajie Avenue, and Nandajie Avenue. In addition, a number of antique & curio markets are also available in Xian, highlighted by Xian Antique Market and Shuyuanmen Archaized Market, and you can purchase terracotta warrior copies and tri-colored glazed potteries of the Tang Dynasty in Xian as well.
Shuyuanmen Cultural Street
Starting at Nanmen Gate in the west and ending at Baishulin Street in the east, Shuyuanmen Cultural Street is paved with blue flagstones and lined with pseudo-classic stores, most of which specialize in selling the four treasures of the study (i.e. writing brush, ink stick, ink slab, paper), calligraphic works and paintings of celebrities, ancient books and tourist souvenirs.
Address: Beilin District of Xian
Nearby attractions: Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and Lesser Wild Goose Pagoda
The Hui Quarter
As the most famous Islamic street in Xian, the Hui Quarter (or the Hui Street) is actually composed of Beiyuanmen Street, North Guangji Street, Xiyangshi Street, and Dapiyuan Street, where the architectural buildings feature the Ming (1368- 1644) and the Qing (1616 -1911) styles. The Hui Quarter is not only a wonderful place for locals and foreigners alike to taste Islamic snacks and specialties, but it’s also an ideal place for visitors to go shopping. The highlights of the street are local souvenirs and specialties, including copies of terracotta warriors, copies of the Greater Wild Goose Pagoda, dried fruits, and cooked beef.
Address: in the west of Zhonggulou Square, Beilin District of Xi’an
Nearby attractions: Drum Tower, Bell Tower, Forest of Steles and Xian Museum
Bell Tower Shopping Area
As the most prosperous commercial area of Xian, the Bell Tower Shopping Area includes Jiefang Road, Dongdajie Avenue, Nandajie Avenue, and Xidajie Avenue, where the modern shopping malls stand in great numbers, highlighted by Kaiyuan Shopping Mall, Minsheng Department Store, Century Golden Flower Shopping Center, and Fanghui Mansion.
Address: in the center of Beilin District of Xian
Nearby attractions: Xian Ancient City Wall and Bell Tower, Drum Tower and the Great Mosque
Greater Wild Goose Pagoda Shopping Area
The Great Wild Goose Pagoda Shopping Area is lined with many stores dealing with digital products, including Golden Eagle International, Metro, Saeger Computer Market, Parkson, and Wal-Mart Shopping Square.
Address: around Greater Wild Goose Pagoda, Yanta District of Xian
Nearby attractions: Greater Wild Goose Pagoda, Qujiang Pool Park and Xian Museum