sign in sign up
<<
Home , Gusu District, Jiangsu, Pingjiang Road, Suzhou embroidery

Finding the Perfect Souvenir in Bring Home Authentic “Made in ” Memories From Local and Foods to Traditional Gifts

SUZHOU, CHINA – February 16, 2017 – When visiting a new destination, a natural occurrence is to buy a keepsake to remember the trip. Yet, all too often when shopping at a local market in search of the perfect item, travelers turn goods upside down to see a price tag and find the words “Made in China” – even when they are in a different country halfway around the world. Luckily for travelers visiting Suzhou, the perfect memento of their experiences in the city will not only be authentically made in China but also showcase the city’s one-of-a-kind culture.

Finding genuine products and goods within Suzhou is easy as the city boasts hundreds of locally crafted items, from Su and mandarin coats to pure clothing, carvings, carpets, and tapestry. Whatever the budget and taste, shoppers looking to purchase local souvenirs will have a plethora of choices while perusing their preferred shopping locale, from flea markets to street stalls and large-scale malls. But remember, most of the prices are open to negotiation, so a little haggling can go a long way.

When shopping in Suzhou, keep an eye out for these top six must-buys:

SILK – The ultimate silk souvenir from Suzhou is the perfect dream garment for any bride-to-be - a handmade wedding dress. Suzhou is home to more than 1,000 wedding stores situated in a dedicated , producing nearly 80% of the world’s wedding dresses, which are available at wholesale prices. Dresses start at 500 RMB ($75) and top-of-the-range examples still ring in at a bargain-busting price of 2000 RMB ($300). If a wedding dress is not on the shopping list, visitors can choose from other popular silk items such as shirts and pants, scarves, , bedding, undergarments, and many more. For all silk needs, the first stop should be the No.1 Silk Factory in Suzhou (No.94 Nanmen Rd, Cang Lang Qu, Suzhou , China).

EMBROIDERY – , also known as Su embroidery, is considered to be one of the four major regional styles of . With its beautiful patterns, elegant colors, and consummate craftsmanship, it is distinct from other styles and famous for its skillful use of stitching, which makes nature and environmental elements such as flowers, birds, animals and gardens so vivid. The most famous type is called Double-Sided embroidery, which is a unique style featuring images on both sides of the art work, sometimes featuring two different images. To see artists at work and a variety of embroidery, visit the Su Embroidery Museum (No.262, Jingde Road, Suzhou Jiangsu, China).

TEA – green is one of the top 10 in China and comes from Dongting Mountain at Taihu Lake where the soil is suitable for growing tea. Because the tea trees are planted next to fruit trees, the tea has a special fragrant flower aroma and mellow taste. Emperor Kangxi of the praised this tea on his trip to Taihu Lake and granted it the name “Biluochun,” which translates to “Green Snail Spring” due its green color and snail-like appearance. The best Biluochun tea leaves are usually picked during March and April and, because production is limited, it is an expensive, but very memorable and worthwhile treat. Biluochun tea can be purchased at one of the many tea shops along .

Page 1 of 3

PEARLS – China produces 95 percent of the world’s freshwater pearl, approximately 1,800 tons annually, and while talking about Chinese freshwater pearls, the first name that jumps out to consumers is Weitang pearl, which come from the city’s Weitang Town. Pearl shopping is an experience at the Suzhou Pearl Market (No. 88 Zhenzhuhu , , Suzhou, Jiangsu, China) – the largest market in China for freshwater pearls – that features several buildings housing hundreds of small booths, which represent more than 30 different companies specializing in loose pearls and jewelry. Prices are extremely low starting at 15 RMB ($2-$3). Pearls come in all shapes and sizes at the market, and vendors will make custom pieces.

FANS – Produced in more than 10 different styles, Suzhou folding fans are beautifully decorated with lively paintings and calligraphy. Each variety of fan is crafted according to vastly different production characteristics. For example, the most famous is the sandalwood fan, which has the characteristics of a zigzag-shaped steel thread that is fixed on the two ends of a bow, with flowers or Chinese characters ironed onto the spread sandalwood fan with an electric pen. Then, patterns like women, flowers, birds, mountains or waters are drawn on the upper half of the fan. The ancient-style fans are elegant, which made them famous both at home and abroad. The best spot to pick up a sandalwood fan is at the Suzhou Sandalwood Fan Factory (No.58, Xibei Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China).

JADE CARVINGS – Jade carvings in Suzhou were most common throughout the when the famous artist Lu Zigang, developed a unique carving technique that is still seen today. Featuring traditional decorative workmanship, jade carvings produced in Suzhou are mainly small products that are exquisite and graceful, often depicting vases, characters, flowers, and animals. Visit the Suzhou Jade Carving Department Store (No.33, North Road-west, Suzhou Jiangsu, China) for the best prices and selection.

About Suzhou Suzhou, the "Venice of China," is known for its elegant stone bridges, , flowing water, and noteworthy architecture. Located in the center of the River Delta, approximately 60 miles west of , Suzhou is one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze Basin dating back more than 2,500 years. The city boasts the beautifully manicured Classical Gardens of Suzhou, many of which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each year, millions of tourists travel to Suzhou to experience the destination’s more than 400 attractions, ranging from and to historical districts and world-class museums. As the largest industrial city in China, Suzhou continues to develop, such as the (SIP), which boasts five-star hotels, the iconic , and Asia’s largest overwater .

Travel to Suzhou is easily accessible via three convenient area airports with non-stop flights from North America: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) offers bullet train service to Suzhou, which is approximately a 50-mile, 30-minute trip; International Airport (PVG) is approximately 65 miles from Suzhou, an hour and half drive; and Sunan Shuofang International Airport (WUX) is approximately 14 miles from Suzhou, a 30 minute drive.

For more information on Suzhou please visit www.TravelToSuzhou.com, follow us on Instagram @visitsuzhou, Twitter @VisitSuzhou and like us on Facebook at Visit Suzhou.

# # #

Media Contact: Robert Einhorn PHG Consulting [email protected] Tel: +1 646 465 9780

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3