China Travel Forum

[Molly]

I will be travelling through China 2005. I was going to buy myself a silk sleeping sheet, the ones with the fold back tops for pillows. However I was horrified to see the price here in Australia AU$80. I note that all these things are made in China, but how easy are they to find once your in China? My first stop will be Shanghai and make my way to Beijing on my first section. Can anyone tell me if it is possible and where to buy a nice silk sheet once I am in China? Also any thing else I should hold off on until I get there or best to spend before leave home.

[Jean]

I bought a couple of those in Viet Nam for 12 USD each. They should be available somewhere also in China, but I was not looking around for one a month ago when travelling China. Almost any silk shop should be able to make one for you, though.
Generally all clothing and shoes are really cheap in China, so do not bring too much travell clothes with you (unless you are very large). Non-fake western brand outdoor clothing is dear, but the cheap fakes also work fine for normal travel, as of course any normal clothes. On the Beijing silk alley bargain hard, check the prices in a normal non-tourist shop first to avoid paying 2-4 times the price at the market... Normal pants or jackets should not cost more than 10 USD. In Yangshou a nice ladies fashion jacket was made to order for 170 RMB, about 20 USD. Good shoes were about 15-20 USD, just to give an idea about the price levels. T-shirts were about 2-3 USD. Cheaper to buy a new one that to have them washed...