Beijing Hotels: Nearby Fortune Cat Shop

Fortune cats are believed to bring fortune and health to the family in Japan. Now this Japanese mascot has grabbed a piece of China's gift market not only by being a bringer of wealth, but also by its cute and honest looks.

Happy Cats House is a gift shop which sells fortune cat items exclusively. Even so, the selection is amazing. The shop is filled with every little gifts and accessories imaginable. Some items I particularly liked were a cat pocket-mirror, to cat pen-box, cat paper fan, and cat porcelain cups.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Customer Designing Gift Shop

Located in Xintiandi clothes market, Character Bar is a shop where you can customarily design your cups, T-shirts, pillows, crystal adornments, and mobile phone decorations with your beloved pictures.

The shop owner promises prompt service. It usually takes her one day to finish required customarily designing goods. And the price is reasonable as well.

You could spend RMB 60 for small crystal adornments with your own pictures embedding within, or RMB 240 for large one and RMB 30 for a crystal mobile phone hanging. RMB 40 is enough to make your own cup, RMB  50 for a porcelain cup and T-shirt costs you RMB 60.

It isn't all about photos, the owner will help you realize any original ideas you share with her on this specific goods. You could also have your-own-shaped figure with a price of RMB 80.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Antique Porcelain Shop

Jing Ying Ge is a shop specializing in porcelain antique items.The shop owner Mr Wang, developed a strong interest for ceramic for more than 10 years.

He showed me one of his favorite ware made about 700 years ago. Mr Wang said the high value of the ware lied in its intactness and complicated technology. Both  blue and white wares glazing and peacock blue glazing are applied in the making. While the complex flower carving made the item more priceless. The antique sells at RMB 500,000.

Then I noticed a hexagonal blue and white porcelain of Qing Dynasty. Looking at its inside, it features a Bagua composing by six pictures. The blue and white ware puzzled me for its usage. Until Mr Wang told me, I will never know it is a brush pen washing basin. Its price is tagged at more than thousand.

Jing Ying Ge also carries some scroll works drawn by Mr Wang's artist friends and large items of porcelain from Jing De Zhen, a famous China town.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Dazhetang Porcelain Shop

Located in biggest antique city in west Beijing, DaZeTang is a  shop selling old-time porcelain or ceramic ware.

I was impressed by the shop owner,Mr Xie's knowledge about porcelain. He is a golden winner of CCTV ceramic connoisseur contest, and is very talkative.

He showed me a pair of hat-hangers made around 1912. During that period, workers used Fen Cai, a kind of porcelain coloring skill, to portrait the beautiful patterns on wares. But it was later found Fen Cai items contained lead that may impair people's health. So European applique technique was adopted to replace Fen Cai. The couple items are sold at RMB 3500.

Mr Xie is also a good story teller. Almost every ceramic ware in his shop has a story, like this porridge vase. It was made in early Ming Dynasty about 700 years ago,telling a story about a famous calligrapher from Song Dynasty, Mi Fu. Mi Fu often realized the spirit of calligraph by examining stones and bamboos. And he perfected the stability and tenacity of Chinese characters by studying the growth of the natural creatures. The story contains a philosophy: calligraph training is something beyond calligraph itself. I interpret as it is important to cultivate natural mood to produce good works. The price is pegged at RMB 3000.

If you want to know more about Chinese porcelain making and history, come to visit Mr Xie's shop, and he would be like to help.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Calabash Carving Shop

BoGu YiYuan is the largest antique city in west Beijing. And in the market, I found a Calabash carving shop, with its owner a prizer winner of top designing contest in China.

First, let me introduce the multi-functional plant,  calabash (hulu).  In the old days, doctors believed hulu is a traditional Chinese medicine cure. Dried calabash is also used as containers of liquids, often liquors or medicine. Nowadays, hulu becomes a decoration item. Artists could draw your whatever patterns you want on the hulu, even your own photo.

Ju De Tang is such a calabash-carving studio, and its owner, Guo Jude, is a second winner of 4th China Gift Designing Contest. After the success, Mr Guo's life is getting busier. He is invited to  draw and curve 60 imagines of ambassadors and leaders from some middle-east nations on  large bottle gourd. Beijing university and government Shijingshan district asked him to give lectures. He now has 10 students, whom he selected to pass down his skill.

You would find a large amount of bottle gourds in different sizes. Mr Guo  charged RMB 50 for a small gourd-carving, But for the large one, because it is hard to find large gourd and it needs more time to increase resemblance, it costs over thousand.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Archaeological and Tibetan Gift Shop

Near the northwest of Jianguomen Bridge, there is a shop specializing in various archaistic bronzes called The Archaeological and Tibetan Gift Store. All the small, fine items sold here are good choices for gifts or souvenirs.

There is a huge Ding - ancient Chinese cooking vessel - with two loop handles and three or four legs, on each side of the entrance.

Entering the shop, a small bronze Jue, a kind of China's ancient drinking goblets, first caught my attention. It is priced at RMB 210. Also in sight are small bronze Dings in round or square shapes for RMB 380 each. Placed on a shelf, a bronze Chinese unicorn looked very exquisite, which is RMB 1000.

In a showcase, various bronze mirrors filled the display. According to the shopkeeper, when the sun or a beam of light shines on one of the bronze mirrors, it will reflect the light onto the wall, and form a pattern. The price for a small bronze mirror is RMB 210

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Yaxuan Handicraft Shop

Visiting the Forbidden City during your stay in Beijing is definitely a must. If you get out of it from the eastern gate, and turn right at the first street on your right side, you will find a small handicraft shop waiting for you. You can't miss it, as there is a red sign above the entrance that reads ‘Chinese Folk Handicraft'.

You can find various small handicrafts with strong, traditional Chinese characteristics there, such as paper-cuts, dough figurines, painted small gourds, and tiger-head baby shoes. All of them are ideal for presents or souvenirs.

The most impressive items to me were miniature Peking opera facial masks. Among which my favorite was a small gift box contains four pieces of the masks. They represent the four main characters from ‘Journey to the West', classic in Chinese literature. Among them, I especially like the Monkey King, whose face features a red, peach-like pattern in the center. That's because peach is the Monkey King's favorite food. Very cheap too. The set cost less than 5 dollars.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Jin Ping Handicraft Shop

Located in Tian Di wholesale market, the largest of its kind in west Beijing, Jin Ping owns a small shop which sells different kinds of folk artwork.

Items cover from Chinese knot to paper-cut, to embroidery to Beijing Opera facebook. Ms Jin said the most popular items for foreign customers are Chinese knot hanging and paper-cut.

The characteristic of Chinese knot is that every knot is made of a single rope. "By combining different knots and other auspicious adornments skillfully, like Beijing Opera facebook or carp ( carp indicates richness in Chinese), Chinese knot hanging expresses warmest regards and best wishes." Jin introduced, " Foreign customers would like to choose the small and delicate hangings. It is much more convenient for them taking home."

Paper-cut has 2000 years of history and now it is still custom to paste paper-cut on windows or doors, especially during the spring festival. Even though  paper-cut nowadays is mainly produced by machines, foreign customers are attracted by the folk art. " Take the Four Beauty paper-cut ( According to legend, the Four Great Beauties are the most beautiful women of ancient China) for example, they could enjoy the artwork while get to know the tales of those people in that periods." Jin explained.

Price of different merchandise ranges from 1 RMB to over hundred. You can bargain hard with the owner.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Guyazhai Antique Shop

If you come to the Beijing's famous artisan hub of Liuli Chang, you will find many antiques and artifacts shop, and Gu Ya Zhai is one of them
 
It is a curio shop selling various kinds of antique items, like porcelain,calligraphy, painting, shadow puppet, snuff bottle and kite.

The shop owner, Mr Xu, showed me his collection of porcelain ware excitedly. Most of the items on the wooden shelf has a history of more than 100 years. He especially introduced the one made during Guangxu emperor regime. Because two parts can be rotated, the piece is rare and set price of RMB 10000.

I was attracted by its large section of  reverse painted tobacco bottles. Most of them are the crystal bottles made by modern artists. These exquisite bottles are with different themes, like spring lantern feast, ancient beauties, fairy tales, and landscapes. I like the cat one most. If you check close, you can even see the cat fur are clearly painted inside the bottle. Price ranges from RMB 500 to RMB 2000 according to different shapes and skills.

Mr Xu told me the most popular items for foreigners are thin-silk kite and shadow puppets. The largest kite in the shop, featuring a light green fish costs RMB 80. While a pair of shadow puppets are priced for RMB 250.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Zi Ying Xuan Sculpture Shop

I was surprised to find so many prize-winning artworks are included in one shop - Zi Ying Xuan, which sells root-sculpture works made by owner Ma Zi Ying, and other hand-made wooden tea table and purses made by Ma's friends. It is not far from some of Beijing's best accomadations.

I was first attracted by those beautiful and professional photos on the glass window taken by Mr Ma. Then I thought it was a teashop as I saw Mr Ma chatting with friends over tea. But at last, Mr Ma correct me, saying he is a root sculptor.

The shop carries many his root-carving works, three of which have won prize in Liu Kaiqu (one famous sculptor in China)contest. They are "Struggle" featuring a man struggling to free himself from all the restrictions ( golden prize), "Tai Ji" reflecting a concept in Taoism, which means the infinite (silver prize) and Nu Wa's repairing stone telling the people creator Nu Wa's repairing sky story (bronze prize). But Mr Ma's favorite is the "Dragon Spirit", a sculpture in shape of a flying dragon. The root, grew in virgin forest in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has a history of more than 1500 years.

Zi Ying Xuan also sells hand-made purses, which are designed by Mr Ma's friends. I personally like the leather one with a curving totem of original dragon in Chinese fairy tales. It is priced at RMB 60.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Huacaizhou Handicraft Shop

Walking around the north of Forbidden City, I found a great little shop which offers traditional Chinese handicrafts. Today, I'd like you to discover it with me. It is not far from some of the best Beijing accommodations. 

I was first attracted by its hand-made Piyings hanging on the wall. Later the shop owner, Mr Xie told me the art is made of cow skin and from Shanxi province. These hand-made puppets can not only be enjoyed as beautiful artworks, but also used in shadow theater plays.

Huacaizhou also offers customized works. Like the furry monkey. The shop owner, Mr Xie is a master of the art. He told me the body of the monkey is made by the cicada slough, while the furry part is made by the seeds from yulan. Both are traditional Chinese medicine. For Mr Xie, the most difficult part is the tool-making. Monkeys carry wood items like fans, drums, and football. Because they are very small, it was hard to cut the wood into the correct shape.

"I can make a furry monkey with different themes upon a customer's request. It usually takes me 10 to 15 days to complete." Mr Xie added.

Talking about his experience, Mr Xie said he came up with the idea to open this shop because his wife and he had a crush on Chinese folk arts. They started their business together in 2005. Since then, they received more and more customers, especially foreigners.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Brahma Samghrma Leather Products Shop

Brahma Samghrma sounds more Indian than Chinese, doesn't it? I supposed I would see tons of Indian exotic items, but it turns out that the shop owner and business starter is a 100% Chinese artist.

This shop, not far from a host of prime Beijing hotels, specializes in handmade leather items near Back Lake area. Beyond the narrow entrance door, a leather smell guides me to a clean sales spot under floor.

When I browsing through the shop, the shop owner, Ms Tang, introduced her "baby" (the shop) enthusiastically. 

Ms. Tang is very proud of her shop, saying all the products created by Samghrma are unique. Literally, there is only one copy of each product in stock.

I noticed that the patterns used on the leather are simple: just a few lines or metal circles to decorate. Like the lotus blossom wallet. The design is hand carved and dyed. So elegant, yet very practical. Made in 100% deer skin, it's pretty soft. Mrs. He told me its design was inspired by oriental ink paintings and the beauty of the lotus flower.

I also like the notebook with theme of "lovers in a starry night". The original version was dark blue, the color of the skies at night. It was designed by one of Samghrma customers. Another customer found the design lovely, and asked the shop to make the same but in a different color, light yellow. You see, all customers can be artists at Samghrma!

When our conversation turned to the shop itself, the owner added that they see a lot of repeat business due to the quality of the leathers they select. Like the motto at Samghrma says: We offer not just products, but a way of life.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Tiandi Jade Shop

Jade, taking a high polish of green or whitish light, is considered as the blessing item that could bring good luck to its owner in China.

From small jade mobile hanging, to jade necklace, to jade bracelet, and large jade-made  home  adornments,  Jade Exclusive in Tian Di attracts my attention by its large selection of jade merchandise. A host of Beijing hotels are located nearby.

For those collectors, jade snuff bottle and jade fingerstall (ring for thumb finger) are what they are looking for. While fashionable youths may be more interested in jade necklace and bracelet. And for  the Buddhist or those who pray for fortune and peace, adornments like Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, and Pi Xiu, animal of the gods which  swallows or collects wealth in ancient Chinese legends,  will be their best choice.

Apart from the number of designs to choose amongst, you can also have the fun of DIY by picking your necklace pendants or selecting jade beads  for bracelet. The price goes from 2 RMB of each bead to over 3,000 RMB of  pendant. Of course, you can bargain hard with the shop owner.

Today was "art discovery day"!

I went to Liu Li Chang St. which is a very well known area in Beijing for art galleries and calligraphy shops, there are a lot of Beijing hotels around here.

Good luck to me, I found one very interesting gallery which carries a peculiar form of art called "farmers' painting". 

What's a farmer's painting? Farmers' paintings originated in the 50s, when the government encouraged rural communities to engage in art.  

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Beiping Huadian Shop

So this style of paintings was created by common people expressing their emotional world. It survived the Cultural Revolution in the 70s, and has flourished ever since China opened its doors to the west in the 80s. 

There aren't many galleries and shops that sell this form of art in Beijing. BeiPing HuaYuan is one of them, and it is situated in the west side of Liu Li Chang St. The owner is Ms. Zhang, she is from the western province of XinJiang. 

I took a few photos which I'll comment here:

This painting is about happiness brought about by a good harvest. Farmers often paint what they wish for, or what they are thankful for: warm home, healthy children, dreams of a happy life.  

This painting is about a good harvest as you can see from the corn cobs. You may wonder why the corn is red rather than yellow. The reason is because red is a symbol of happiness and celebration in China. The painter used the red color to express his thankfulness for the good harvest.

This painting is called ‘Cutting Wheat'. It's about an educated urban youth working on a farm. It depicts one of millions of Chinese urban teenagers who were required to learn farming during the Cultural Revolution. Ms. Zhang the owner told me several of her customers had confided that this painting reminded them of their youth days during these chaotic times.

I also noticed a few unusual paintings in the shop. One is called ‘Eight Strange Things about Northeast China' depicts how women like to smoke pipe tobacco there. In the picture, the grandmother is smoking with an extra long tobacco pipe. A common scene in Northeastern China.

The BeiPing HuaYuan shop displays about 50 framed farmers' paintings. There are well over 200 in the back of the place though.

Ms. Zhang also offers something different to her customers - a form of art called "Iron Painting". Iron painting is an ancient form of art dating back over 400 years. The artist used metal in place of paint, and a hammer in place of a brush. The works displayed in the gallery are all from WuHu, the capital of iron painting in China.

This painting is about several reclusive men enjoying their retreating life and internal peace

Most of the works are inspired by the two main themes of Confucianism and Taoism: harmony and virtue.

I liked this particular painting which shows two reclusive men in the wild. You can see the mountains, trees, rivers, and meditating scholars. They are all typical subjects of Taoist art, and depict harmony between man and nature.

The shoo owner, Mr Zhang, being in the business for 20 years, is familiar with almost all the national painter and their style in China. He firstly introduced the abstract style painter Wang Senran, and his work to me. I guess few people will know the objects on the paper are cabbages at first glance. Because Bai Cai (cabbage) is homonymic with the word that means being rich in Chinese, the painting expresses good wishes for wealth. Mr Zhang highlighted the essence of the picture lies at the intervals of light and dark ink usage and the vertical and horizontal layout of the five cabbages, showing good balance.

I personally in favor of the comedic style painting, featuring one character in Outlaws of the Marsh monk Lu Zhishen, nicknamed the "Flowery Monk". In the painting, He has a round face and big ears, a straight nose and squarish mouth, with a face overshadowed by his beard. By just simple lines, his character is fully reflected in the painting.

As most paintings of San Jiu are real work by famous painter, the prices are comparatively higher, ranging from RMB 10,000 to RMB 30,000.