Beijing Hotels: Nearby Cloth Shoe Shop

After visiting Baigong Handicraft Museum located on the south side of Guangming Lu, I dropped in at a small shop right by the building. The shop's name is Buhai'er, which means Cloth Baby in English. The small, lovely shoes behind the shop window dragged me in.

The main goods selling there are traditional tiger-head shoes. They are handmade by local women. They feature bright colors, layers and layers of pure cloth soles, and of course, a pair of tiger heads. Traditionally, Chinese couples love to have their babes wore this kind of shoes, hoping they are as strong and brave as tigers.

The details are nice, showing vivid features of a tiger. Even the tiger's beard is made of white thin threads. And a Chinese character ‘Wang', or ‘King', is sewn on the forehead. This is because the Chinese feel tigers are the king of the wild.

I picked up a pair. They felt pretty soft. It must be comfortable to have them on feet. I wish I could get back to my babyhood again.

Today, I would like to introduce to you a handicraft shop that offers ornaments made by one of the 55 ethnic minorities of China. The shop is located near the Drum Tower, where you will find some of the best accommodations of Beijing, China. The name of the shop is "Na Xi Po Po".

The word "Na xi" designates one of the minorities of Yun Nan Province in Southern China. The cultural heritage of the Na Xi minority dates back a 1,000 years ago - This cultural heritage includes Dong Ba Wen, the only language still in use today that uses the pictograph.  

A pictograph is writing represented by pictures. The local people have used this system to this day. In this shop, there are many ornaments with this beautiful tradition.  

Look at that special shop front, the name is written both in Chinese and Dong Ba Pictograph.

The shop owner once visited the beautiful city of Li Jiang in Yun Nan Province, and he was infatuated with the antiquated amorous feelings of the Na Xi Nationality. After he came back to Beijing, He was still missing the unique culture there. So he opened this shop, to take the real Na Xi history to Beijing.

All of the ornaments are made by local craftmen, including clothes, bags, tapestries, lacquer ware, and so on. The Dong Ba pictograph is the treasure of the Na Xi nationality, so they decorate their handicraft with auspicious characters to send their wishes to people. It is said that the antique pattern can also get rid of evil spirits.

And also they have some carpets and tapestries here, they are made of quality wool, and woven in an auspicious pattern. You can decorate your house with them.

These are colorful drawing lacquer works card cases and other accessories.

Want to accessorize yourself with silks and embroideries from Chinese minority? Dexian Minority House Accessories is the best choice. Located near some of Beijing's prime accomadations, the shop offers accessories shop from the Dujun Handmade Embroidery Research School of the Guizhou Province.

Most of the items are made by silk, with price ranging from RMB 15 up to over thousand yuan.

You can find a large selection of minority items here, like embroidery cushions (RMB 88), cushion covers (some of them priced at RMB 15), table cloth (RMB 158-178), and eyemasks with lavender inside (RMB 30), etc.

Walking on the Gongti Beilu, I can't help noticing a clothes shop with its exquisite decoration and strong Chinese character.Artist He Yan opened the boutique and designs all the ancient Chinese-style, modern fashionable clothing  and handmade fabrics. Nearby you can find great Beijing accommodations.

Walking in the shop, i feel like taking a time warp to  hundred years ago when wooden weaving loom was used to make cloth. Yes, the wooden loom, wooden flower-pattern table and wardrobe distinguish the shop from ordinary ones by accent its own style.

Xiao Liu, the staff showed me a notebook which fills with customers' love for Heyan'er in many languages, like Japanese, French and German. A six-year-old girl, also a fan of Heyan'er, drew a picture for the shop's anniversary and now the picture was printed as the shop's bookmark gift.

Staff in the shop can speak a little English and price ranges from 80 RMB to over thousands. Bargain is not available, but for those spend over 1,000 RMB, the shop will hand out vip card which means a 10 percent discount. 

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Jade Shop

Jade Family mainly sells the famous Hoton jade antiques, and many other baubles from the beginning of the 20th century. From jade necklace, to jade bracelet, and large jade-made  home  adornments,  Jade Family carries a large selection of jade merchandises.

The shop owner, Ms Cao, told me their story of jade collection in Xinjiang. She said  the south of Hotan are Jade mountains and the river beside the Hotan city is called Jade river even now people can still see the man picking the Jade in the river. Only in the Jade river one can find the best quality Jade,but mountain Jade is different with low quality and there are some jade still in the mountain for cheap Jade product.

She showed me a top-quality jade horse. Even though I know little about jade, I still appreciate its whiteness and brightness. The item is sold at RMB 30,000. Another piece I like is the Jade Mountain. It is in shape of mountain, with three old men standing by pine trees. All these represent longevity in China. It cost RMB 2500.

I also found some decoration items from the later qing dynasty, like the thumb ring. In old time, it is only the rich men could afford to wear jade thumb ring. Besides, you can purchase daily items, like ceramic ware, tobacco bottles, and ceramics figures in the shop.

There are large numbers of handicraft shops in Beijing. But it is not that easy to find a great one with nice prices. So I was very happy coming across Good Old Days near the Forbidden City.

Carrying over 100 categories of finely selected traditional Chinese handicrafts, Good Old Days has been in the business for almost a decade. From clay baubles to cloth cats, wood paintings to zodiac pendants, everything brings some old-time touch.

In the of clay products section, I picked up a small, stripped-color kitty with its tail cocking up. This lovely animal, as the owner told me, has been popular with ladies to place rings. It only sells for RMB 20.

There are two dozens of Chinese shadow puppets in the puppet section. Made of donkey or ox leather, those little figures are used for shadow play or home decoration. Each sells around RMB 150.

On the walls are some wood painting worked by a friend of the shop owner. The paintings portrait elegant ladies of old times, reflecting their loneliness and solitude after polygamy marriage. Each is priced at RMB 400.

The owner is a native Beijinger, who speaks fluent English and would like to share their insights on Chinese culture with foreign friends.

I have introduced many shops selling Tibetan gifts, and now I enlarge the extant to the whole Himalaya area, including  Nepal, Pakistan, India, Tibet, and even Russia.

Locatec in the Drum Tower, BaZha Tribe carries a wide variety of daily products from the above palces. Ms. Ma, the owner, was an experienced tourism editor. She introduced me a collection of Pakistani products: peach-wood fruit tray, boat-shape stoup with complex floral design, and candleholder that looks like a grape vine. Prices range from RMB 250 to RMB 1500.

Personally, I like the Nepalese woolen scarves and shawls. Handmade in a small town near Nepal's capital Katmandu, they are colorful, soft, and decorated with intricate motifs. Each sells around RMB 300. They are also the best seller in BaZha Tribe.

Products from Tibet include necklaces, rings, bracelets, prayer wheels, and Tangkas. Prices vary a lot, from RMB 30 to RMB 2000.

Ms. Ma speaks fluent English and French, and often travels to Himalaya region.