Cool Gifts with an Exotic Flavor: Ya Xuan Folk Handicrafts
submitted: Aug 30th 2008 |
by: PhilChavanne |
Total views: 2 |
Word Count: 376 |
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The Forbidden City is surrounded with shops selling Chinese handicrafts. Not all shops were created equal though, so travelers have to many to find those which truly offer articles of great value.
Everyone wants to make a quick tourist buck. Beijing shop owners follow this international rule. The advantage of living in Beijing is that you get to see many shops: after a while, you develop a good sense of what's cool and what's fake or just overpriced cheap stuff.
I found one of such cool shops in Nan Chi Zi Street, with a large selection of handicrafts from all over China.
The good thing about this kind of shops is that though they are not specialized in any region in particular, they bring to Beijing a whiff of what's so special about the Chinese ethnic minorities.
Amongst the articles offered, I noticed a pendant from Shandong made in a red cotton cord; a "happiness doll" from the province of Hebei; several ethnic minority figurines from the Yunnan province; and small clay sculptures which had been handcrafted in Beijing.
Known as 'Huan Xi Wa Wa', happiness dolls are believed to bring good luck and fortune, and for some models to promise life-long bonds to newlyweds.
The Chinese people place a great importance on such symbols, and they frequently offer each other things which mean luck, wealth, good health, longevity, and love.
Among the other decorative objects offered by the shop, you can't but notice the braided pendants. Shaped as fish and Chinese zodiac animals, or Chinese characters such as 'Luck' and 'Love', these red pendants are great handmade gifts.
Standing on a shelf a series of clay figurines depict old Beijing neighborhood scenes. Modeled in clay using ancient techniques, these figurines are a few inches high. They represent nicely detailed characters standing at the gates of the old Beijing 'courtyards', family homes built in a square around a patio.
On some of these figurines, the clay artist did not forget to add the weeds you can typically observe on the roofs and walls of these homes. Even the doorsteps show the mark of time on the stone.
In my book they would make a very cool gift for passionate collectors or for a child interested in small-scale models and mini-dolls.
About the Author
Phil 'Biker' Chavanne roams China to bring you unique gifts from Beijing and other places. Check the wealth of information provided on his Beijing shopping website and get fresh gift ideas for your significant ones.
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