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Bargain Hard at the Yu Yuan Garden and Bazaar, Shanghai
Published by Camilla Cheung, Writer
Country: China 
The Experience
Amid the glittering skyscrapers of Shanghai, Yu Yuan Garden is an enclave of traditional Chinese architecture and a classical garden. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Shanghai, Yu Yuan Garden is worth a visit for the garden and teahouses, especially if you don't get a chance to go to the nearby garden cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou. But beautiful as it is, the true attraction for many who visit Yu Yuan Gardens is the enormous bazaar that extends from the central area and the entrance to the garden, to the outskirts of the local neighborhood. Here, great deals on all sorts of things can be found, from embroidered slippers, “new” antiques, lucky charms, fake paper money to burn for your ancestors' ghosts, parasols, and other knickknacks.
The Yu Yuan Garden and Bazaar in Shanghai is a great place to souvenir shop for friends, and an ideal place to find key chains commemorating the 2008 Beijing Olympics, for example, and paraphernalia featuring “Beibao”, the Gumby-esque mascot of the 2010 World Expo. There is also a wide assortment of items made from Chinese silk, such as cushion covers, purses, table runners, placemats, and ready-made traditional Chinese dresses known as “qipao”. Foot-tall replicas of the Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an, so-called “antique” postcards and posters featuring the iconic “beautiful girls” of Shanghai in the pre-Communist days, custom-carved stone chops (the red stamp you see on a lot of Chinese paintings), and hundreds of Mao's little red books, are all kitschy but fun souvenirs of China.
The key to getting a deal at the Yu Yuan Bazaar is being a hard-nosed bargainer. None of the items have pre-set prices, and if you're a foreigner, you're an obvious target to be overcharged. Generally speaking, you can expect that the price quoted to you has been inflated by at least 200 percent; so when you're asked to name a price, try to bargain for a third to half the value of the original quoted price. Never, ever accept the first price you're quoted. If the seller isn't giving in on the price, simply shrug, smile, and walk away. Nine times out of ten the seller will call you back and give you the price you want. That being said, as a tourist, it makes it a more pleasant experience if you give in a little bit on your price too. It’s better to pay a dollar or two more and leave the transaction with both of you smiling.
Keep in mind that the majority of the items at the Yu Yuan Bazaar in Shanghai are cheaply-made, so don't fall into the trap of paying hundreds of dollars for jade or pearl jewellery. Most of the time, the jade and pearls are of low quality and are not worth much as precious stones, although they make pretty accessories.
If you're a smart shopper with a good eye for quality, you can have a great time at the Yu Yuan Bazaar and Gardens, and come away with some interesting cheap souvenirs that will wow your friends back home.
The Yu Yuan Garden and Bazaar in Shanghai is a great place to souvenir shop for friends, and an ideal place to find key chains commemorating the 2008 Beijing Olympics, for example, and paraphernalia featuring “Beibao”, the Gumby-esque mascot of the 2010 World Expo. There is also a wide assortment of items made from Chinese silk, such as cushion covers, purses, table runners, placemats, and ready-made traditional Chinese dresses known as “qipao”. Foot-tall replicas of the Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an, so-called “antique” postcards and posters featuring the iconic “beautiful girls” of Shanghai in the pre-Communist days, custom-carved stone chops (the red stamp you see on a lot of Chinese paintings), and hundreds of Mao's little red books, are all kitschy but fun souvenirs of China.
The key to getting a deal at the Yu Yuan Bazaar is being a hard-nosed bargainer. None of the items have pre-set prices, and if you're a foreigner, you're an obvious target to be overcharged. Generally speaking, you can expect that the price quoted to you has been inflated by at least 200 percent; so when you're asked to name a price, try to bargain for a third to half the value of the original quoted price. Never, ever accept the first price you're quoted. If the seller isn't giving in on the price, simply shrug, smile, and walk away. Nine times out of ten the seller will call you back and give you the price you want. That being said, as a tourist, it makes it a more pleasant experience if you give in a little bit on your price too. It’s better to pay a dollar or two more and leave the transaction with both of you smiling.
Keep in mind that the majority of the items at the Yu Yuan Bazaar in Shanghai are cheaply-made, so don't fall into the trap of paying hundreds of dollars for jade or pearl jewellery. Most of the time, the jade and pearls are of low quality and are not worth much as precious stones, although they make pretty accessories.
If you're a smart shopper with a good eye for quality, you can have a great time at the Yu Yuan Bazaar and Gardens, and come away with some interesting cheap souvenirs that will wow your friends back home.
When to Go
The Yu Yuan Bazaar is a great place to visit year-round. Do try to get there earlier in the day to avoid the crowds of tour groups that typically arrive mid-morning or in the early afternoon.
A particularly interesting, though crowded time to visit Yu Yuan is during the Chinese New Year Festival in Spring, or the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Fall, when the traditional buildings are festooned with red lanterns and other decorations.
A particularly interesting, though crowded time to visit Yu Yuan is during the Chinese New Year Festival in Spring, or the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Fall, when the traditional buildings are festooned with red lanterns and other decorations.
Odds n' Ends
The Yu Yuan Garden Bazaar is a hotbed for pickpocket activity, so be sure to have your money and valuables safely stowed away in a money belt, or keep your bag under close watch. If you're sporting a rolling suitcase or a huge backpack, you're an obvious target. Keep a hand on your valuables, especially in crowded areas.
Beware of so-called "art students" inviting you to a private showing of their art or inviting you to practice English with them. This is a common scam targeting foreigners where in the best-case scenario you end up pressured to buy overpriced cheap reproductions marketed as legitimate art; or in the worst-case scenario the "students" take you out for an expensive meal and leave you stranded with the bill.
In spite of a few scams being perpetrated here and there, however, Yu Yuan Garden is exceptionally safe, and you'll have a great time as long as you use your common sense and stay alert.
Beware of so-called "art students" inviting you to a private showing of their art or inviting you to practice English with them. This is a common scam targeting foreigners where in the best-case scenario you end up pressured to buy overpriced cheap reproductions marketed as legitimate art; or in the worst-case scenario the "students" take you out for an expensive meal and leave you stranded with the bill.
In spite of a few scams being perpetrated here and there, however, Yu Yuan Garden is exceptionally safe, and you'll have a great time as long as you use your common sense and stay alert.
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