Buying up the best of Beijing

As a seasoned Beijing shopper, the influx of tourists to our fair capital has me thinking. While tourists are bound to have a blast shopping, there’s simply too much to buy in China. Not only is everything made here, but the sheer volume and variety could see many flying home with a suitcase of junk.

When it comes to pointless knickknacks, Beijing has the mother lode. Fortunately, there are some real treasures to be found—some touristy-kitsch and others curiously valuable in terms of memorabilia. But forget the fake watches, stuffed pandas and cheap postcards; it's time to start thinking outside the Tiananmen Square.

Forgoe the I Heart BJ shirts and instead, snatch up a retro tee from Plastered T-shirts where their subway ticket and taxi fare prints will have you looking like a real local. At Silk Street Market, have the kids pick out their own stone chop. Carved before your very eyes with their name in English or Chinese, these lifelong stamps are perfect for personalizing letters, cards and art masterpieces to stick on the fridge. Be sure to pick up the traditional red-inked stamp pad.

Gem stones and precious metals are also a must-buy in Beijing. Pick up a sterling silver pendant at Ya Show market, available in “luck,” “love” or “happiness” Chinese characters. If you have daughters, invest in a good set of pearls on the fourth and fifth floors of the Pearl Market (Hongqiao). Other market gems, in no particular order, include: sandalwood fans, quilts, pashminas, woven silk, Chinese cheongsams (or qipao) and slippers, silk bags with bamboo handles, the Chinese zodiac carved in jade and of course, alarm clocks decorated with Chairman Mao, his ticking arm waving merrily.

But my real favorite? Low on class and high on kitsch, my family's prized possession is a gold Lucky Cat, beckoning mountains of fortune into our house with its perpetually waving paw.

Ah, when it comes to shopping, I heart China.

Tania McCartney