Jiangsu is a coastal province in eastern China, on the northern side of the Yangtze River Delta and the Yellow Sea. It is one of China's wealthiest and most densely populated provinces, anchored by the capital Nanjing and by Suzhou, the province's largest city, whose classical gardens are UNESCO-listed. Jiangsu is celebrated for its canal-laced water towns, Grand Canal heritage, Taihu Lake, and refined Huaiyang and Jiangnan cuisine.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Nanjing Yunjin brocade
Loom-woven silk brocade with gold-thread patterns; small wallets and scarves are practical purchases
Price: CNY 100-5,000 (approx USD 14.93-746.27)
Where: Fuzimiao shops and museum shops in Nanjing
Suzhou embroidery (Su Xiu)
Double-sided embroidered pictures and fans using split silk thread
Price: CNY 50-20,000 (approx USD 7.46-2,985.07)
Where: Suzhou Embroidery Research Institute and Pingjiang Road
Suzhou silk scarves and quilts
Mulberry silk goods graded by momme weight
Price: CNY 80-2,000 (approx USD 11.94-298.51)
Where: Suzhou Silk Museum shop, Guanqian Street
Yixing zisha teapot
Handmade purple clay teapot, best used for a single tea type
Price: CNY 100-30,000 (approx USD 14.93-4,477.61)
Where: Dingshu Town, Yixing, or certified shops in Suzhou and Nanjing
Huishan clay figurines
Painted folk figurines from Wuxi
Price: CNY 30-800 (approx USD 4.48-119.40)
Where: Huishan Ancient Town, Wuxi
Yangzhou lacquerware and seals
Inlaid lacquer boxes and carved seal stones
Price: CNY 50-3,000 (approx USD 7.46-447.76)
Where: Dongguan Street, Yangzhou
Suzhou pastries and Nanjing salted duck
Vacuum-packed local specialties for travel
Price: CNY 30-200 (approx USD 4.48-29.85)
Where: Guanqian Street and Fuzimiao
Biluochun tea
Green tea grown on Dongting Mountain near Suzhou, prized for its fine curls and fruit aroma
Price: CNY 150-1,500 (approx USD 22.39-223.88)
Where: Suzhou tea shops and Shantang Street
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Nanjing Fuzimiao (Confucius Temple) Shopping Street
Pedestrian streets around the Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River selling Nanjing souvenirs, brocade scarves, paper lanterns, and Qinhuai snacks such as salted duck. Bargaining is normal at stalls.
Where: Nanjing - Qinhuai District, Confucius Temple
Hours: Shops daily 10AM-10PM; lanterns lit at night
Laomendong Historic Block
A restored Ming-Qing neighborhood of low-rise lanes with craft studios, design boutiques, tea shops, and cafes; prices are fixed and mostly higher than at market stalls.
Where: Nanjing - Laomendong, south of Confucius Temple
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Suzhou Pingjiang Road
A canal-side stone-paved historic street of about 1.6 km with silk, embroidery, tea, and pastry shops and Pingtan teahouses. Bargain at small stalls; established shops post fixed prices.
Where: Suzhou - Pingjiang Historic Block
Hours: Shops daily 9AM-10PM
Guanqian Street
Suzhou's oldest downtown pedestrian street around Xuanmiao Guan temple, with old brands for Suzhou snacks and silk stores.
Where: Suzhou - Guanqian Street pedestrian area
Hours: Shops daily 10AM-10PM
Shantang Street
A historic canal street of about 3.5 km running from the Changmen gate toward Tiger Hill, with souvenir shops, embroidered goods, and teahouses; stalls accept mobile payment.
Where: Suzhou - Shantang Street, from Changmen toward Tiger Hill
Hours: Daily 9AM-10PM
Suzhou Embroidery Research Institute
A workshop and gallery where masters demonstrate Su Xiu and sell finished pieces; prices scale with stitch density. Ask for a certificate and fapiao. Coordinates are approximate for the street.
Where: Suzhou - Jingde Road, Gusu District
Hours: Daily 8:30AM-5PM
Suzhou Silk Museum Shop
The museum shop of the Suzhou Silk Museum sells mulberry silk scarves, silk quilts, and reproductions of historic textiles at fixed prices.
Where: Suzhou - Renmin Road, near Beisi Pagoda
Hours: Daily 9AM-5PM (check for Monday closure)
Dingshu Zisha Ceramics Street (Yixing)
The main center for Yixing zisha teapots, with many studios and a wholesale ceramics street; handmade pots from named artists cost far more than molded ones. Look for the artist's seal and request a certificate. Coordinates are approximate for the town.
Where: Yixing - Dingshu Town, the zisha teapot capital
Hours: Shops daily 9AM-6PM
Huishan Ancient Town (Wuxi)
A historic district of ancestral halls and lanes known for Huishan clay figurines, a folk craft; souvenir shops sell painted figurines and Wuxi snacks.
Where: Wuxi - Huishan District
Hours: Daily 9AM-9PM
Dongguan Street (Yangzhou)
A pedestrian street of Qing-era buildings with lacquerware, seal carving, jade, paper-cut, and sweet-shop vendors.
Where: Yangzhou - Old City, along the canal
Hours: Daily 9AM-10PM
Zhouzhuang Ancient Town Shops
A canal town between Shanghai and Suzhou with lanes of souvenir shops and Wansan pork knuckle vendors. An entrance ticket covers the core area; compare prices before buying.
Where: Kunshan - Zhouzhuang water town
Hours: Daily 8AM-9PM; entry ticket applies
Xinjiekou Zhongshan Road Shopping District
The commercial heart of Nanjing around the Xinjiekou roundabout, with Deji Plaza, Central Emporium, and underground malls linking to Metro Lines 1 and 2.
Where: Nanjing - Xinjiekou, city center
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected at street stalls and tourist markets such as Fuzimiao and Shantang Street, but not in malls, museum shops, or fixed-price silk stores
Start near 40-50% of the asking price at small stalls and work up slowly; a friendly walk-away often prompts a lower offer
Compare two or three stalls before buying silk, tea, or zisha; quality varies widely and asking for a certificate is a normal request
Pay by Alipay or WeChat Pay when possible, and carry a small amount of cash for the smallest vendors
For high-value zisha teapots or embroidery, ask for the maker's name and a fapiao receipt
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Vendors commonly offer tea to taste before a purchase; accepting does not oblige a sale, Receipts (fapiao) are worth keeping for silk, embroidery, jade, and zisha, especially for customs questions when leaving China, Silk is graded by weight (momme) and content; ask to see the fiber label, Historic shopping streets keep fixed prices in established brand shops but are flexible on souvenirs and multiples