If you could get any souvenir or small gift from China or Japan, what would it be?

Question

The longest and/or most helpful list wins. try to list things that YOU would like, as a kid or grown-up. Some things could be jewelry (be specific), vases, traditional things, etc.

Answer 1

China:

There are many exotic and unusual things to buy in China which make wonderful souvenirs and gifts for relatives and friends back home. The following is a sample of the amazing range of goods available.

Silk:
Chinese silk is famous all over the world for its magnificent quality, color and variety. Silk products from Hangzhou, Sichuan, Suzhou and Dandong are particularly good.

Tea:
There are hundreds of varieties of Chinese tea. They can be classified into five categories - green tea, black tea, brick tea, scented tea, and oolong tea.

The top ten teas in China are as follows; any of them would make a wonderful gift for your friends.

Longjing produced near West Lake, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Biluochun from Wu County in Jiangsu
Huangshan Maofeng from Mt. Huangshan in Anhui
Junshan Silver Needle from Qingluo Island on Dongting Lake
Qimen Black Tea from Qimen County in Anhui
Liuan Guapian from Liuan County in Anhui
Xinyang Maojian from Xinyang in Henan
Duyun Maojian from Duyun Mountain in Guizhou
Wuyi Rock Tea from Wuyi Mountain in Fujian
Tieguanyin from Anxi County in Fujian
Please refer to Chinese tea, How to select excellent tea for more information.

Wines and Spirits:
Alcoholic drinks, in ancient China, were regarded as sacred and were used only in sacrifices. Today, however, wines and spirits are becoming popular as accompaniments to Chinese food.

The following wines and spirits have won many international awards:

Yanghe Daqu and Shuanggou Daqu from Jiangsu
Gujing Tribute Liquor from Anhui
Maotai and Dong Liquor from Guizhou
Wuliangye, Jiannanchun and Luzhou Laojiao from Sichuan
Fenjiu Liquor from Shanxi
Please refer to Chinese Wines and Spirits for further information.

Antiques:
If you're an antique enthusiast, China is the place for you! Fascinating antique and curio shops and market stalls are to be found in most cities and country towns.Care is needed, however, when buying expensive items to ensure, for example, that the item carries the official red seal of the shop and the sale documents are in order. Chinese law forbids the export of antiques dated earlier than 1795.


Chinese Medicinal Materials:
Traditional Chinese Medicine is an integral part of Chinese life and culture. With its unique diagnostic methods, systematic approach, abundant historical literature and materials, Traditional Chinese Medicine has found many adherents in Western countries. The use of traditional herbs and potions lies at the core of Chinese medicine. Mostly made from animal and plant materials, these medicines have proved effective for treating a wide range of illnesses and disorders. Tonics based on herbs are also popular. Examples of the materials used in the preparation of medicines and tonics are ginseng, antler, rhubarb horse-tails, bezoars, angelica, Tianqi, licorice root, apricot kernel and the root of balloon flower.

In recent years, for the sake of protecting endangered animals, the preparation of medicinal materials from rare animals, such as musk, antler, leopard and tiger bone, rhinoceros horn and elephant skin, has been restricted. Such medicines cannot be exported from China; however, tourists can export Chinese herbs with a total value of less than 300 RMB (per person).

Please refer to Traditional Chinese Medicine for further information.

Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts products make ideal souvenirs and gifts. These include bronze ware, cloisonne, folk toys, jade, kites, lacquer wares, paper-cutting, porcelain, pottery, seal, prints and scrolls, silk, embroidery and printed and dyed fabrics. Cloisonn¨¦ made in Beijing, porcelain made in Jingdezhen in Jiangxi, embroidery from Suzhou, Hunan, Guangdong and Sichhuan, Tang tri-color pottery horses and camels, and batik from Guizhou and Yunnan are all highly recommended.



The "four treasures of study" - namely writing brush, ink stick, ink slab, paper - play an important part in Chinese culture. You may want a set for your own study or to give as a unique gift to your friends. The best writing materials are said to be Xuan paper and Hui ink stick from Anhui, Duan ink slab from Guangdong and Hu writing brush from Zhejiang.

Japan:

Shopping in Japan is a varied and enjoyable experience. You can purchase anything from cutting edge electronic products to beautiful traditional Japanese arts and crafts. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Pearls

Pearls and pearl jewelry are popular purchases for foreign visitors. A local firm, Mikimoto, first developed cultured pearls by using a delicate technique that introduces an irritant into the pearl oyster. They come in a great variety of sizes, shapes and colors. The prices depend on the regularity, size and luster of the pearls. It is advisable to check the prices of pearls in your own country before making a purchase.

Electric and Electronic Appliances

Transistor radios, mini-TV sets, CD players, personal computers, VCRs, video cameras, tape recorders, stereos and hi-fi equipment, digital clock-radios, and pocket-size electronic calculators are available anywhere in Japan. Japanese electrical and electronic goods have a glowing reputation all over the world.

Cameras and Optical Goods

Good deals can come in the form of cameras (video and still), lenses and accessories, binoculars, microscopes, and telescopes. As most of the best brands in camera equipment are Japanese, you can be sure of competitive prices on their home turf. With some effort, a second-hand camera and lens can be yours for half the price of new equipment. Second-hand shops are found in Shinjuku and Ginza in Tokyo.

Watches and Clocks

Timepiece makers Seiko and Citizen are well known over the world. These timepieces are popular items in the arcades of leading hotels and jewelers as well as department stores.

Arts and Crafts

Every region of Japan has its own unique arts and crafts handed down from generation to generation.

Kasa

The Japanese umbrella (kasa) is a favorite souvenir item. It comes in two forms: higasa, which is made of paper, cotton or silk and serves as a sunshade, and bangasa, which is made of oiled paper and keeps the rain off. Many department stores and tourist shops will have kasa available for purchase.

Koinobori

In Japan, the carp is much revered for its tenacity and perseverance. You can see Koinobori (carp banners) flying from poles in Japan. These elegant banners are available from Shibuya's Oriental Bazaar in Tokyo and are occasionally sold in tourist shops.

Katana

An impressive souvenir to bring home to would be the Katana, or traditional Samurai sword. However, good quality genuine Katana can be very expensive. It could come to more than the combined expenses of the rest of your trip to Japan. Fortunately, some department stores do offer realistic imitations at an affordable price.

Kimono & Yukata

Mention Japan and the word 'Kimono' springs to mind. Although the kimono is synonymous with Japan, it is seldom worn by Japanese women now except perhaps on special occasions such as a school graduation or wedding day. Kimonos are very expensive, with prices ranging from ?0,000 to ? million. A cheaper alternative would be to get a Yukata (the cotton bathrobes worn in Ryokan). A Yukata has a distinctive Japanese look without the prohibitive price tag.

Bamboo Ware

Bamboo grows in all parts of Japan and is widely utilized in making ornaments and domestic articles.

Ningyo (Japanese Dolls)

There are many types of Japanese dolls, each showing the features of a locality or a certain period in history. Such exquisite dolls are usually intended for display and not for playing with. A ningyo is unique and exquisitely dressed in kimono with styled hair. They make excellent souvenirs or gifts. Also available are the gogatsu-ningyo, or dolls dressed in samurai suits.

Folding Fans


Fans used in Japanese dances have attractive, colorful designs. Excellent gifts for members of the family.



Shikki (Lacquer Ware)


The making of durable Japanese lacquer ware is given much elaborate care, which is reflected in their high prices. The lacquer making process involves as many as 15 layers of lacquer and the finished products are often either dishes or furniture. Although bigger items are fairly expensive, smaller items are more affordable and easier to take home as souvenirs.

Lanterns

Paper lanterns produced in Gifu Prefecture are used during the summer season when they are hung over the verandas. They often make unique cultural souvenirs to bring home.

Pottery

Plates, vases and tea utensils as well as purely artistic works are popular souvenir items.

Cloisonné

Japanese cloisonné work boasts of a fine jewel-like glitter and artistry in its design.

Damascene

This charming artwork is created by inlaying gold and silver foil on the surface of black steel.

Silk Goods

Japanese silk is superior in quality. Skilled dyeing techniques and original patterns make them some of the most exquisite and sought after fabric in the world.

Ukiyo-e (Woodblock Prints)

Ukiyo-e literally means 'pictures from the floating world'. Much like the "Pop Art" of the West, Ukiyo-e has its roots in advertisements and posters. Today, these color prints showing scenes of life in present day Japan have been gaining favor with collectors both at home and abroad. Prices range from 2000 to 30,000. If you are interested in them, do try out the Oriental Bazaar in Shibuya, Tokyo. The prints found there are reasonably priced

Answer 2

China has low priced gifts (getting more expensive each year, but cheaper than Japan.
China: silk dressing gowns, traditional dresses, shirts, ties and children's clothing.. Decorative fans to hold in a handbag or larger ones to hang on the walls. Paintings and caligraphy. There are beautiful ink holders that have been traditionally used for caligraphy, they are sometimes painted or carved and make great paper weights. Chinese porcelain and decorative chop=sticks make great gifts.A visit to a Chinese medicine store is a must, and provided import of herbal medicines is allowed in your home country then a host of possibilities exists. The Chinese have many varieties of tea that are available in gift boxes as is ginseng and liquor. Of course jewelry will be very different from your home country so gold, silver and jade are available in a host of designs. Rose wood furniture in traditional styles are plentiful. China has such a rich history and they have many films (usually on DVD) and modern books that either depict history or have stories about places of interest. There are many types of music so tapes, records, CDs abound and are inexpensive. China now has a well developed electronics industry and they have an extensive range of gadgets for sale.
Japan is more expensive, but the same type of presents are there. Tea, medicines, clothing, electronics, pocelain, paintings, caligraphy, stationery, Japanese music, dolls and liquor. Japan has some very distinctive green tea and the smells that emanate from their tea shops are heavenly. Japanese dinner services come in sets of 5 as the number 6 is inauspicious!! Sake pots and small drinking vessels are delightful and they come in hundreds of designs. Porcelain beer tankards are great.
That should keep you going, but there are a lot more things that you will find by wandering around their enormous department stores and more traditional markets.

Answer 3

-Traditional clothing (Japanese jinbei/yukata, Chinese cheongsam)
-A doll or some sort of figure wearing traditional clothing
-Book with folktales
-Flags from each country
-Music CDs from popular artists (not traditional music)
-Snacks/Food
-Souvenirs from famous landmarks, like the Great Wall, Forbidden City (China) Hiroshima, Mt. Fuji (Japan)
-Authentic handcrafts
-Books with a lot of pictures of places in the country
-From Japan, I'd like simple books that I could practice reading
-Surprises! Sometimes you just can't anticipate the interesting things that someone will find, but when you receive them, you love them!

Answer 4

Kimono, Yukata (an informal kimono for summer wear) fabricks, chopsticks (they have different designs) , porcelain dishes like tea pot, tea cup, plate's, herbal's tea's, chess figures,and statuettes of Buddha, Mikimoto pearl (bracelets, earings, rings, neckless, dolls, lucky charm bracelets, books about fungsui,"Geta" wooden slippers,hair pins, jade, Origami, katana blade sword used by Samurai, Sake wine, noodles, ramen, wasabi, nori, rice cakes, and great wall of china (joke!!!) ;))

Answer 5

Clothes-(not even traditional ones)

It's so cheap that you want to buy in bulk and sell it on ebay. Go to those large building with invidual vendors, they sell really stylish clothes for really cheap price, you can (and you should) bargin with them.

And did I mention all the cute accessories?

Answer 6

Tea pot, kimono, silk fabric, wooden shoes, cookware, but most of all pearls, the grey ones please.