So... I'm new to this blog thing, and my first idea was to ask a question. My friend is going to China for the summer, and he said he'd get me something from there. But alas, I don't know what's cool that I can get. Any recommendations? :D

Kaolla

China2999 Posts

April 17 2013 06:01 GMT

New smartphone/monitor (2560x1440)

Both way cheaper here than elsewhere...
If you want something with more cultural value, no idea

haduken

Australia8267 Posts

April 17 2013 06:04 GMT

I thought electronics costs more in China. Unless you want to get a local brand or smuggled goods with no warranty.

Chairman Ray

United States11903 Posts

April 17 2013 06:08 GMT

I would recommend getting tea. There's a lot of really amazing Chinese teas that don't get shipped internationally or are at least hard to find.

Jindo

United States1305 Posts

April 17 2013 06:14 GMT

Perhaps an authentic Chinese Silk comforter?

T.O.P.

Hong Kong4685 Posts

April 17 2013 06:29 GMT

Nothing. There's no reason to get anything branded from China, as branded items cost less in western markets. Unless your friend is a local, he's probably gonna get swindled. Don't get any food items either, food safety is a problem in a country without much regulations.

mdb

Bulgaria4059 Posts

April 17 2013 06:35 GMT

China girl!

BreAKerTV

Taiwan1658 Posts

April 17 2013 07:12 GMT

Chinese SC2 account. How does one accomplish this? buy four different China Unicom Code Cards that are worth 50 RMB each (or simply find a way to get 200 RMB on a single China Unicom card), then follow these steps here...

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=309287

You now own the world's cheapest retail copy of SC2 and Heart of the Swarm. GG.

ETisME

12621 Posts

April 17 2013 08:01 GMT

I think word art would be nice, but obviously he can't get the super high quality ones but they really are nice to look at imo.
chinese characters have so much history in them that even if you can't understand it, you can kinda appreciate it.

+ Show Spoiler +

chinese tea is also quite recommended, they have their own unique taste to it

Cambium

United States16368 Posts

April 17 2013 08:13 GMT

#10

A generalization that's mostly true: anything worth buying is overpriced in China.

Having said that, if you are into arts and crafts, there is some cool stuff worth looking into, like silk, enamel, porcelain, jade, etc. Again, all very expensive, but at least unique to some degree.

opterown

Australia54784 Posts

April 17 2013 08:16 GMT

#11

cheap, fake clothes are decent if you have space (some are quite well made)

felisconcolori

United States6168 Posts

April 17 2013 08:35 GMT

#12

One of my former conductors spoke well of Chinese musical instruments. (Not the typical 4 - he was talking about ~$400 bassoons of good quality, as well as other concert and orchestral instruments. For comparison, a student bassoon starts around $2k.)

Might not be too practical. Trade tea bricks would be nice, though.

Burrfoot

United States1176 Posts

April 17 2013 11:47 GMT

#13

Every time my mom asks me this question I always say : 12 lbs of the sweet ham jerky!!!

Kaolla

China2999 Posts

April 17 2013 13:27 GMT

#14

On April 17 2013 15:04 haduken wrote:
I thought electronics costs more in China. Unless you want to get a local brand or smuggled goods with no warranty.

local brands indeed, but a Xiaomi phone for instance is pretty damn awesome and way cheaper than anything in the west with similar specs (maybe Nexus 4 excluded)... And for the monitor yea also local brand, but they use LG panels which are good quality ...

Furthermore pretty much everything that is said here is true... Branded stuff = expensive... Maybe the tea is a good idea, but then again this is China, you never know what kinda poison is in there