Artisans ~ China Travel Pictures

Jade carver ~ China Artisan

China is known for its wonderful artisans works in jade, such as jewellery, figurines, and personal care items.

Here, a carver demonstrates the art near the showroom retail outlet.

The pieces are quite beautiful, and there's no pressure to buy.

Jade Tiger at a Friendship Store

This is just one of dozens of jade items for sale.

Look for jewelery, ornaments and knickknacks.

If you notice a small roller like the ones used to paint walls, it's designed to iron out any worry lines.

Ladies are encouraged to roll the smooth, cool jade over their faces each morning to tighten poores and soothe the skin.

Jade and porcelain Buddhas

These small sculptures are fine souvenirs, and there is no lack of choice.

Usually your guide (and most western visitors will have one) will be a great help in getting you a good value.

Cloisonné artisan demonstrating the art

Cloisonné is enamelware in which different colors of enamel paint are applied to the designs created by thin metal strips.

The price varies according to quality and size. Simple bracelets, rings and earrings are very inexpensive, usually $2-$5 each, but they will not withstand heavy wear.

Treat them as interesting souvenirs for the young girls on your shopping list.

Large Cloisonné vase

See for yourself how lovely this is!

Retailers usually can help you arrange to ship home larger items, such as this floor vase, but factor the shipping cost into the total price.

If you live in a large city with a vibrant Chinatown, most likely you can buy these items at home.

I found this out when shopping in a Chinese mall at home in Mississauga, Canada, much to my chagrin, and the price was comparable.

Older cloisonné vases

Along the hall leading to where the artisans were demonstrating their skills, we passed a small room with pieces of old style cloisonné that had been set aside as a type of museum.

The pieces were done in an ancient style, with blues and whites.

New Cloisonné Vases

The showrooms / retail stores are department store size, and most visitors can easily take a half hour to just walk through before making a decision.

The staff in these stores will be impeccably groomed young ladies, each one overseeing her own section of the counter.

While many study English at school, often they are too shy to speak to Westerners. Speak slowly, using simple phrases and gestures, and you will be understood. When you want to buy something, the clerk will lead you to the department manager, who will complete the transaction. Plan to pay in yuan, though more stores will now acccept credit cards for larger purchases.

Pearls Forming in the Shell

China is a major pearl producer, so this is the place to buy all manner of pearl items -- jewellery, sculptures or even blended into face creams. It was when I saw the lavish displays of pearls that I wished I had known something about how to choose good quality ones. In my ignorance, I wasn't even certain of the difference between cultured and natural pearls, though I could differentiate between saltwater and freshwater. :-)

Freshwater cultured pearl necklaces, I later learned, are a bargain in China. And virtually all commercial pearls today are cultured. Real pearls feel rough and gritty when gently rubbed along your teeth; the plastic or glass pearls sold on the street feel smooth.

Chinese Zodiac Animals Made From Pearls

The 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac are defined by different animals, like those shown here, fashioned from freshwater pearls.

These pearl zodiac sign animals make a unique souvenir, and are easy to tuck into a corner of a suitcase.