As a gateway to Tibet and the start of the Silk Road, it is an important center for commerce and trade. Chengdu City has a wild selection of souvenirs and things to buy, such as Shu Brocade, Silverware pieces, Bamboo Production, Qingcheng Silk Tapestries and lacquerwares.

 

Shu Brocade

This brocade, soft in feel and flamboyant in color, has a history of over two thousand years, and it is one of the four best and most famous brocades in China along with Nanjing Brocade, Suzhou Brocade and Guangxi Brocade. Shu Brocade is renowned for its superb workmanship, smooth and bright in quality. It has strong expression and artistic effect. Its features are said to be "fine and smooth needlework, simple and elegant colors, graceful and easy lines and the traditional Chinese paintings' style ". Developed over more than twenty centuries, over several hundred types have evolved and brocade has become an integral part of the ornament of women in the ethnic groups from southwestern China. However, handmade brocade has given way to modern textile industries and there is only one factory remaining in the city that specializes in making Sichuan Brocade.

 

Silverware

Chengdu has long been famous for its silverware. Chengdu silver is produced from extremely thin and fine threads of metal, which are as thin as hair. The delicate pieces are welded together and made into jewelry, wall decorations, table decorations and other pretty pieces. Silverware is widely available throughout Chengdu.

 

Bamboo Production

Since Chengdu is home to the panda, the area is also home to bamboo. Apart from food for the bears, bamboo is used to make covers and mats for vases, teapots, bowls, caskets etc. Only a special type of bamboo is used to make these pieces. This kind of stuff is very fashionable in the west at the moment and the Chengdu Bamboo Weaving Factory, is the most famous factory making bamboo products in Chengdu. The prices here are much more reasonable than in the west too!

 

Silk Tapestry

Silk tapestry is hand made rugs which use silk and spun silk as materials. After the tapestry has been spun by machine, the pattern is delicately woven by hand. This is a popular wall hanging. The tapestry is smooth and sleek and to touch it feels soft and springy. China exports this product to the west and Southeast Asia and this makes a lovely souvenir.

 

Lacquerware

Chengdu is one of the major producers of lacquer ware. The Chinese assign name to different types of lacquer-ware according to the method of production. Many different types of lacquer product are produced in Chengdu including wall decorations and screens. Some pieces are covered with flax, paper or plastic before they are painted to avoid the wood rotting.

 

Lacquerware

Street Market
Location: beside the Jin Jiang Hotel and the Minshan Hotel.

Chaotang Bei Lu Market (antiques market)
Location: in the west of the city.

Chengdu Lacquer Craft Factory 
Location: at No 81 Jinghejie, Chengdu.

Qing Shi Qiao Art, Flower and Pet Market
Location: Xinkai Jie and Nanfu Jie Street.  Close to the city center. 

Songxianqiao Art City
Location: west of the 1st ring road on the corner of Qingyang Shangjie and Kuanhua Beilu. 

Women's Market
Location: in the Central Business District, intersection of DaYeJie & ShangDongDaJie.

Sabrina's Country Store - Western Groceries
Location: at No. 54 Kehua Beilu, across from Sichuan Univ. west gate.

Ran Fang Jie Street Market
Location: close to Tianfu Square. 

He Hua Chi Wholesale Market
Location: On the south side of the North Railway Station.

Cell Phone Street
Location: Tidujie Street.

Computer City & Shu Ma Guang Chang Square

Location: Renmin Nanlu & the South 1st Ring Road.

 

Special Touring Regions:

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