The lovely tourist city Guilin is able to offer you a unique and interesting shopping experience with its numerous small streets, flea markets.

Shoppers in Guilin can purchase anything from tea and clothing. There three major shopping districts in Guilin City: Zhong Shan Road and Zheng Yang Pedestrian Street located in the city's center, and Wa Yao Wholesale Shopping District in southern Guilin.

What to buy 

◎ South Sea Pearls

The South Sea Pearls in China have been well known all around the world for their fine quality and long-lasting luster. Hepu in Guangxi province produces the finest South Sea Pearls in China. Located in the North Guangxi province close to Hepu, Guilin is an ideal place to buy South Sea Pearls if you are not visiting Hepu.

◎ Chinese Landscape Ink Paintings

Famed as the "most scenic place under Heaven", Guilin's landscape has been the subject of Chinese artists for thousands of years. In order to capture inspirations and get close to the natural beauty, many ink painting artists and institutions have settled down in Guilin. This makes Guilin an excellent place to buy fine ink painting works at inexpensive prices.

◎ Minority Handicrafts

Guilin is rich in minority cultures with 28 ethnic groups living in the area. These ethnic people are still producing their traditional costumes' and handicrafts in the old fashion way. Among them, costumes and headdress of Zhang and Yao ethnic groups are most attractive. Real handmade minority handicrafts are expensive however they are truly valuable souvenirs to bring home.

◎ Luohanguo  

Fructus momordicae, called Luohanguo in Chinese, is primarily grown in southern China's Guangxi Province, with the majority coming from the mountains of Guilin. In China, traditional Chinese doctors have used Luohanguo as an expectorant, to fight heat stroke, acute or chronic throat inflammation, aphonia, and chronic cough for centuries.

◎Guilin Local Specialties

The most famous local specialties in Guilin include Dry Sweet Osmanthus Flowers, Sugar Sweet Osmanthus, Dried Longan, Luo-Han-Guo Fruit. They are nutritious and healthy. Locals often use them as sweetener in cooking, or to make healthy drink or desserts.

The most famous local fruit is Sha-Tian Grapefruit. It is kind of big fruit with soft, thick, and rough yellow skin matured during autumn. Its meat taste sweet with special fragrance.

Where to buy

◎ Zhong Shan Road  

Zhong Shan Road is the longest commercial street in Guilin City with many big department stores in the street, as well as many boutique stores including some famous brands.

◎ NiKo-NiKo-Do Plaza (微笑堂)

Address: 37 Zhongshan Middle Road

Business Hours: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm, Monday – Sunday

Price Negotiable: No

Niko-Niko-Do Plaza is one of the best shopping malls, and may be the most popular one in Guilin. If you are looking for quality clothing, shoes, electronics, and cosmetics, it is a right place to go. There are some fine restaurants on the top floor and a KFC outlet on the ground floor facing the main street. Niko-Niko-Do Plaza has an under group food supermarket, where you can purchase local specialties.

◎ Dream Island Department Store (梦之岛百货)

Address: 20 Zhongshan Middle Road

Business Hours: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm, Monday – Sunday

Price Negotiable: No

Dream Island Department Store is another place to go for quality brand goods. There is also a KFC outlet on the ground floor facing the main street.

◎ Bā Guì Dà Shà (Osmanthus Shopping Plaza八桂大厦)

Address: 47 Zhongshan Middle Road

Business Hours: 9:00 am – 9:30 pm, Monday – Sunday

Price Negotiable: Yes

There are many clothing and shoe stores in this shopping plaza, where you can bargain the prices. The prices in most stores are inexpensive, and the quality is reasonable. You could either get deals or ripped off when shopping in here, so also ways remember to bargain.

◎ Xicheng Pedestrian Street (Elephant Night Market)

Every evening Xicheng Pedestrian Street becomes a bustling night market. Stalls here mostly sell souvenirs and knick-knacks from all parts of China and they sell mostly the same kind of goods too. Shopping at the street-side stalls are fun, but be sure to bargain. There are also many restaurants and drink shops there.

Address: Xicheng Pedestrian Street, Zhongshan Road.

Hours: all day but the big night market starts from 19:00 to 02:00 every day.

◎ Zheng Yang Pedestrian Street 

Zhang Yang Pedestrian Street locates in downtown Guilin paralleled the Zhong Shan Road. The main entrance to Zheng Yang Pedestrian Street is opposite to the entrance of the ancient Ming Dynasty princes' palace.

This walking street is Guilin's most hip and popular shopping district that consists of many fashion boutiques, bars, nightclubs, high-end hair salons, and restaurants. No vehicles are allowed to enter the streets. It is the best place in Guilin to find fashion clothing and places to hang out. It is where to see and be seen in Guilin.

◎ Wa Yao Tour Products Wholesale Market  

The Wa Yao Wholesale Market is made up of several 6 storey buildings. Wa Yao is where individual shoppers and buyers from other shops go for their needs. This market sells everything from clothing and house wares, to antiques and art. The Wa Yao Tour Products Shopping District is organized into categorized sections, so finding things is fairly easy. As it is mainly a wholesale market, you can get lower prices in here than the normal retailing prices. Be aware, if you are looking for high quality brands, this is not the right place to go. But this is an excellent place to collect local crafts.