Shopping for branded products or replicas is a piece of cake in Guangzhou as expats and local people seem to live in it and breather it. If you are not targeting at fashion items and are looking for something different, you might want to look a bit further for traditional Chinese antiques and handicrafts to give as gifts or as a store-up collection.
There are three kinds of traditional art forms which are famous in Guangzhou, including embroidery, carving as well as enameled ceramics. If you also want to make some extra money out of your hobby, buying jade jewellery, statuary, bronzeware, calligraphy or paintings is a good option. The following is a list of places to hunt for antiques and handicrafts in Guangzhou markets.
1. Folk Art Museum at Chen Clan Academy
Chen Clan Academy’s Fok Art Museum is ideal for those who are looking for handmade gifts in Guangdong province. What interesting is that you can find a glittering array of carvings and ceramics there.
Another thing you can’t miss out is the gift shop of the museum. Usually, many of the museums in the city have their own gift shops selling crafts by local artisans at unbelievable low prices.
Add: Chen Clan Academy, Zhongshan Qi Lu, Liwan District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市荔湾区中山七路
Opening hours: Daily, 08:30-17:30
Getting There: Metro Line 1, Chen Clan Academy station, exit D. Bus No. 85, 88, 104, 107, 109, 114, 128, 133, 181, 193, 204, 233, 250, 251, 260, 268, 286.
2. Changshou Lu Metro Station
The streets both on the east and west sides of Changshou Lu metro station proudly boast lots of shopping opportunities for antiques and handicrafts. Xiguan Guwan Cheng(西关古玩城), located at the west of Liwanhu park, are clusters of antique dealers and other shops selling handicrafts.
Housed in traditional Xiguan architecture, antiques and handicrafts on display have attracted customers in China and abroad.
Add: Lizhiwan Lu, Liwan District Guangzhou
地址：广州市荔湾区荔枝湾路
Opening hours: Daily, around 08:30 to 17:30
Getting There: Metro Line 1, Changshou Lu station, Exit B then follow Baoyuan Lu. Bus No. 226, 541, 39 to Hengbao Garden Bus Terminal; bus No. 2, 25, 55 or 66 to Pantang.
3. Hualin Jade Street and Yuansheng Xijie
Two major sites for decorative homeware and jewellery are located on the west of Changshou Lu. Hualin Jade Street(华林玉器街) neighboring Hualin Temple and Yuansheng Xijie(源胜西街) offers a vast array of jewellery, beads, antique, ceramics, carvings, brassware as well as many other antique items. However, good and bad are intermingled, and for a wise shopper it is always better to double check authenticity before going down into deep negotiation.
Getting There: Take metro Line 1 to Changshou Lu Station (长寿路站). Follow Changshou Xi Lu (长寿西路) to Wenchang Nan Lu (文昌南路), turn right and look for Hualin Lu (华林路) on the left. The handicrafts market area extends south to the intersection with Xiajiu Lu (下九路) and west to Kangwang Lu (康王路).
4. Head Office of Guangzhou Antique Shop/Wende Lu Culture Street
Guangzhou Antique Shop Head Office, with museum feel, offers intriguing examples of handicrafts in Guangdong province. During your trip to that area, you should also not miss the Wende Lu Culture Street, where lots of original calligraphy and paintings as well reproductions of well-know paintings are within easy reach.
Add: 172 Wende Bei Lu, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市越秀区文德北路172号
Getting There: Take metro line 1 or 2 to Gongyuanqian station (公园前站) near Beijing Lu (北京路). From Beijing Lu walk east along Zhongshan Lu (中山路) then turn right on Wende Lu (文德路).
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