Guangdong Province is famous as an export industry region. Guangzhou is one of the coastal cities open to foreign investment in China, and it has grown rapidly as a financial center, administrative center, and export center in Guangdong Province. Guangdong Province is especially known for its export oriented industry and electronics industries. So if visitors to Guangdong want to go shopping for inexpensive electronics, clothing, computers, and thousands of other products, this is a good place to come. It is one of China's export centers. Thousands of African business people can be seen in the major wholesale areas buying export goods. There are about the best supermarkets in China, and thousands of outlets of various products. While in Guangzhou, why not check out what is available to take with you.

Local Products

Cantonese Embroidery: Cantonese embroidery is well-known for its bright colors, vivid patterns, and creative ideas.

Jade Sculpture: For some reason, Chinese have always loved jade items, from burial clothing for emperors to pendants many Chinese now wear. Jade ornaments include jade bracelets, jade rings, and jade earrings. Jade decorations people might want to decorate their houses or offices with include jade paperweights, jade flowers and plants, jade figures, and jade birds and animals. Jade vases, jars and other decorative products are also popular.

Wang Laoji (王老吉): This is a popular herbal tea because it cools people off in Guangzhou's hot weather and is also helpful to cool people off after eating spicy food. It is sweet and slightly bitter, but it somehow actually helps to take away the burning sensation after eating food with lots of red pepper such as Sichuan cuisine. People also use it as a medicine to relieve fevers and other "heat"-related health issues. It can be bought in cans just like cola for about 3.5 RMB or about 50 cents USD and is sold almost everywhere pop is sold. It is also served as a tea in cups in little tea shops.

Popular Shopping Sites

Street Markets

There are both expensive shopping districts and commodity-level areas in Guangzhou where a lot of people from many countries shop to buy bargains for export.

Malls and Shopping Centers for Clothes and Shoes

Global International Shoes Trade Center 国际鞋城步云天地
This is a world of shoes with lots and lots of shops. All kinds of locally made shoes can be found. Prices are very cheap. Generally speaking, people can pay about 150 to 200 RMB (about 20 or 30 USD) for a pair of shoes that might sell for two or three times or more in the US.
Address: Zhan Xi Road #26 广州市站西路26号步云天地

Beijing Road 北京西路
Beijing Road (Beijing Lu) is located in the Guangzhou city center area. It is very easy to get to by taking the metro to the Gongyuan Qian Station. This pedestrian street that is hundreds of meters long is crammed full of shops big and small. They sell almost everything imaginable. Remember to bargain for it. It gets really crowded on the weekends. You will be like a local.

Mouse Street Shopping Center 老鼠街
Mouse Street (Lao Shu Jie) is also known as "Women's Street" (Nu Ren Jie). It is in the northern part of China Plaza on Zhong Shan Road. Hundreds of stores sell locally produced and name-brand clothes, shoes, and accessories. Things are cheaper than in Beijing Road, but the place is more crowded. Bargaining is essential.

Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street 上下九步行街
It ranks first among pedestrian streets in Guangzhou and has developed its own business model of "Xiguan" This word usually means "Western Guangzhou Culture." It has a long history, and there are good restaurants and hotels such as Taotaoju Restaurant, Qingping Hotel and Yong'an Company.
Address: On the junction of Shangjiu Road and Xiajiu Road.

The Palace Mall in China Hotel 中酒名店城
The Palace Mall in China Hotel is a famous place for visitors enjoying leisure and shopping. Hundreds of stores offer world famous brand fashions including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Ferragamo and Hugo Boss. China Hotel offers dining and entertainment services besides shopping.
Address: The 1st Floor, China Hotel, No.100, Liuhua Road, Yuexiu District (广州市越秀区流花路100号中国大酒店一楼)

Haizhu Square 海珠广场
Haizhu Square has a huge wholesale/flea market that was built in 1952. It is the only riverside square in Guangzhou. You will find all kinds of goods on sale: toys, souvenirs, electronics, dried food, household items, clothes, lamps, artificial flowers and much more. Remember to bargain.

Zhuangyuan Fang 状元坊
Commodities in Zhuangyuan Fang are priced in the mass consumption levels. Zhuangyuan Fang is a small alley only about 200 meters, but it attracts plenty visitors everyday by its fashionable clothes, ornaments and trinkets. It is a popular place among the young people.
Address: Zhuangyuan Fang, Renmin Nan Lu (人民南路状元坊)

Huale Road 华乐路
Huale Road is just behind the Garden Hotel. The Garden Hotel is a big and surprisingly luxurious hotel in Guangzhou, judging from the public sitting areas. The hotel is a Guangzhou landmark. Huale Road is a center for fashion clothing and has many trendy boutiques.

Nonglinxia Xialu Commercial Street 农林下路商业街
Nonglinxia Lu Commercial Street is the largest commercial district in Dongshan District. Most commodities are priced in middle range. The main commodities in the street are clothes, shoes, bags and characteristic snacks.
Address: Nonglinxia Road, Dongshan District, Guangzho (广州市农林下路)

Popular Front 流行前线 
Popular Front offers all kinds of snacks from Japan, America and Taiwan. Numerous fashion products can meet the demands of those people interested in Japanese and South Korean fashion.
Address: No.25-27, Zhongshan Road, Yuexiu Districet (越秀区中山路25-27号)

Gifts

Xiguan Antique Street 西关古玩城
The market has many shops for collectors and sells everything from ceramic teapots to Tibetan rugs.
Address: No. 88 Wenchang Nan Road, Liwan District.

Qingping Market 清平市场
Qingping Market is a very popular market among the local people. There are hundreds of shops or stands with food, herbs, seafood, birds, pets, flowers and plants for sale. Local people in nearby neighborhoods go grocery shopping at the market. It is worth spending some time wandering at the market, and visitors can get a close look at how local people live their daily life. Be prepared for what might be considered less than sanitary conditions or mistreatment of animals and lots of crowds.
Address: 92 Qingping Road, Liwan District.

Jade Street 玉器街
Jade Street is filled with thousands of small shops selling jade items. Foreigners may have problems finding the street.
Address: Changshou Lu (长寿路) and Wenchang Lu (文昌路); near Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street. You can take Metro Line 1 and get off at Chang Shou Lu. You can show this to the taxi driver.

Yuansheng Ceram and Jade Craft Street 源胜陶瓷玉石工艺街 
Yuansheng Craft Street is the largest terminal market of crafts made from ceram or jade. Near thousand stores offer various quality crafts including Jingdezhen china, Yixing dark-red enameled pottery, Fujian shoushan stone, Burma jade and so on. 
Address: North Wenchang Road, Liwan District 荔湾区文昌北路