Shopping and Souvenirs

Yangzhou is an ideal place to shop for vases and birdcages. Near the Yangzhou Potted Plant Garden is an excellent bird and flower market filled with vendors selling both modern and classical items. Meticulously sculpted plants line their racks and are all for sale if you have the inclination to carry them with you. People throng the market from sun up to sun down and these two times are when you can usually get the best deals.

West of the city museum, lining the canal, are numerous stalls selling tourist knickknacks and souvenirs. Jiangsu Province is known for its porcelain and it's also possible to find high quality embroidery and jade. Many of the jade artifacts displayed in the Forbidden City were made in Yangzhou; naturally jade goods made in Yangzhou still represent top quality craftsmanship. Jade jewelry and pendants range from RMB 100 to 300, while jade figurines cost RMB 300 to 500. Since the Han dynasty, Yangzhou has been known for its lacquer ware, common lacquer products such as figurines sell for RMB 60 to 2,000 depending on the size and quality.

True antiques are hard to find anywhere and no matter what the vendors may claim, the trained eye is the best judge. These types of souvenir stands are popping up close to all the major sites and will more likely come to you before you have a chance to find them.