Beijing Hotels - Nearby No.5 Cross Stitch Shop

Embroidery is considered as a must-skill for elegant woman in ancient China. Now the art has delvelop into cross stitch in modern times.

Located in Tian Di wholesale market, No. 5 Cross Stitch  specializes in making  the traditional and exquisite crafts.In the shop, you can choose every patterns, from world famous art paintings to Beijing opera's facebook, to Japanese animation character.

Besides from the common style of cross stitch, like fixing the finished pattern in picture frame,  the    pattern can also be stitched on pillows and clocks or used as insoles.

The price varied from 20 yuan to 800 yuan according to different needs of customers. For example, a 30cm x 30 cm unstitched package will cost you about 25 yuan,  but a 80 cm x 80 cm finished goods is priced at 800 yuan. The owner of the shop, Ms Kuang said it will take a lot of time and energy to finish a cross stitch, so the cost is very high.

Beijing Hotels-Nearby Charcoal Carve Shop

Entering the shop, i was attracted by the promotion board, "Purifying Art", as people nowadays getting more and more attention on environment protection.

At first glance, it is just a souvenir shop selling those carved vases, trays and hangings. But all the black artworks make me know they are not made by usual porcelain but active carbon.

Golden and black charcoal carve is created completely by hand and is molded with the active carbon forming technique. Blended in the spirit of antique totem civilization, the golden dragon and colorful phoenix or lotus of riches is either grand or delicate, all as if alive and vigorous. The materials that the vase body is made of can absorb impurities  and poisonous gas, thus purifying the air in the room, Thus the item has two functions: art that prays for happiness and health as well as safety for ever.

Price ranges from car hanging at RMB 60 to large dragon-carved vase of RMB 9999. Shop assistant could not speak English and bargain is not customary. A 10 percent off is offered to those spend over RMB 10000 in the shop.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Muji Shop

MUJI is a Japanese retail company which sells a wide variety of household goods. Its earth-friendliness and no-logo policy make it popular among youth. A friend of mine in Xiamen even flied to Shanghai on holidays for MUJI's skin care products.

Now MUJI has opened the first shop in Beijing on March. I can't wait to pay it a vist. Located in Joy City, Xidan, the new chain sells goods ranging from pens, notebooks, and clothing for men and women to major kitchen appliances and bathing items. Food, electric appliance and furniture are not on sales yet. It is not easy to give price for each item but is certainly higher than those sold in Chinese supermarket.

All the goods have a Japanese label, and most are made in China and Japan. Inventive uses for materials that might otherwise have been discarded or ignored result in innovative product at the lowest cost are the character of MUJI, like those various size of recycling-paper envelops (10 Pieces /pack), with prices ranging from RMB 10 to RMB 20.

MUJI is not only an internationally renowned company, but for many people is a way of life.

For the first Beijing branch, many criticized its small space and lack of merchandiser. Nevertheless, its is the first in Beijing, and I hoped the second one could be better.

Near the Forbidden City, there is a shop, Mountain Gift, selling bamboo art from deep mountains.

Coming from XianNing, a mountainous city in HuBei Province where bamboo abounds, Mountain Gifts offers a large selection of bamboo books and sculptures.

The crafters of the shop use the ancient way to make bamboo books - carving on the narrow bamboo strips. The themes include Dream of Red Mansion, legendary tales of Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Chairman Mao's snow poem, and Sun Tzu's Art of War. Each piece sells around RMB 300.

In the bamboo sculpture section, I was enthralled by the sculpture "Zhu Lin Qi Xian" - the seven famous literati of ideals and integrity of Jin Dynasty. The carving works were excellent, as you can see clearly the smallest details. Ms. Zhang, the owner, says a good bamboo sculpture work doesn't come easy. Qualified bamboo is hard to find and the shape of bamboo roots will also largely affect the sculpture making. The artwork is priced at about RMB 2,000.