Guilin Shopping and Districts

(Guilin, Guangxi, China)

There is a wide choice of shopping to be enjoyed around Guilin, with many of the city's back streets being home to some rather surprising shops and local handicrafts. Those who prefer shopping malls should consider heading to Guilin's modern Niko Niko Do Plaza centre (Wei Xiao Tang) on the Zhongshan Zhonglu (Zhongshan Road), where there is a particularly good supermarket situated within the basement.

On the far southerly side of the city, the Guilin International Commodity Market is a good place to begin your shopping, and is where you can not only purchase some quality souvenirs, but also watch the craftsman carving their ornaments or painting their landscapes. This market has a particularly friendly atmosphere and is easy to reach by using bus number 11 from the Zhongshan Zhonglu.

Where to Shop

The main shopping district in Guilin is based around the Zhongshan Zhonglu and the Central Square, where the shops are interspersed by innumerable eateries, Internet cafes, hotels and other places of interest.

Some of the most popular souvenirs sold here include locally made chilli sauce, fermented bean curd, Osmanthus tea and wine, paper fans and umbrellas, and the tasty alcoholic drink known as 'sanhua'.

Every evening from around 7:30 until as late as midnight, the Zhongshan Zhonglu is transformed into a bustling night market and closed to traffic.

Literally hundreds of stall holders gather in this part of Guilin to sell their wares and fresh produce.