Where & what to buy in Nanjing 2024? — 7+ must-buy gifts & best Nanjing souvenirs you should have

Nanjing, China is rich in historical and cultural relics and famous scenic spots as well as a shopping paradise with many local superproducts. A few souvenirs or gifts for family and friends will be a perfect choice during your trip to Nanjing! In this post, we will also suggest you great shopping places such as shopping centers, department stores, and famous markets. So, what to buy in Nanjing and where to shop in Nanjing? Let’s check out our Nanjing shopping guide with the suggested list of 7+ must-buy, best Nanjing souvenirs, best things to buy in Nanjing as well as best places to shop in Nanjing as follows!

What to buy as gifts when visiting Nanjing? (# nanjing shopping guide)

Cloud Brocade (Yunjin Brocade)

Of all the ancient silk fabrics, brocade represents the highest techniques and reflects the quintessence of Chinese silk weaving skills. Yunjin brocade is one of three famous brocades produced in ancient China, with neat stitches, elegant colors, and exquisite workmanship. Today, Yunjin brocade products include costumes, ethnic clothing, cushions, duvet covers, carpets, wall paintings, and other crafts. Guests can decorate their rooms with these traditional Chinese patterns, which will make your room more sophisticated and create a warm family sense.

Rain Flower Stone (Yuhuashi necklace/bracelet) (# nanjing shopping)

These jade-smooth rainbow stones are believed to come from the Yuhuatai area (Flower Rain Terrace, a historic memorial site for Chinese martyrs in the city), making an ideal souvenir for your trip to Nanjing. With outstanding and delicate patterns, this will be a perfect item to decorate your water bottle or fish tank. Folk artists often make them into ringcases, pendants, or other fine jewelry. A special product is Yuhuashi available in many colors, which will be a beautiful fashion accessory.

Jinling gold leaf (# nanjing souvenirs)

Gold is a symbol of respect for supreme power. Boasting unique craftsmanship, exceptional in the craftsman’s skills of pounding gold sheets into slices with a thickness of fewer than 0.1 micrometers, the Jinling gold leaf is mainly used in Chinese artifacts and works of art such as architecture, utensils, Buddha statues, and so on. Nowadays, it is also widely used for clothes and paintings. Some items made from Jinling gold leaf will help decorate your room to become much more unique!

Carved ivory antiques (# what to buy in nanjing)

Exquisite ivory carvings are famous in Nanjing, which features diverse objects from figures and animals to utensils. The designs are well put together, and the motifs are intricate with delicate details. When designing simple products, smooth grinding and polishing will be emphasized by artisans as much as possible. Works such as dragon boats, rainbow games and dancing feathers highly appreciated by experts will be precious gifts from Nanjing.

Packaged salted duck

Nanjing salted duck is a dish with more than 400 years of history and is one of China’s most famous duck preparation methods. The duck meat is richly marinated, juicy, and tender. The specialty lies in cutting and preparation techniques, producing a mildly sweet flavor by using seasonal vegetables, freshwater fish, and seafood. Tourists not only enjoy it in Nanjing but also purchase packaged salted duck or pressed duck as gifts for family and friends. Many supermarkets and retail stores stock cold dishes in portable, sealed vacuum packages, but you should also pay attention to the expiration date as well!

In addition to famous nanjing souvenirs and best things to buy in Nanjing above, you can also buy other items as gifts such as handicrafts, calligraphy paintings, silk, scroll paintings, folding fan…

Where to buy gifts in Nanjing? (# nanjing souvenirs)

Xinjiekou (New Territories Street)

Xinjiekou occupies a strategic location in downtown Nanjing, famous for its commercial district known as “China’s No. 1 Business Circle”. As a new transportation hub, Xinjiekou becomes crowded with skyscrapers, busy roads, hotels including the Jinling Hotel, subway stations, public buses, and other tourist facilities providing tourists with accommodation and convenient access to every corner of the city.

Not only that, this place is home to the major shopping and fashion zone with world-famous brands and large retail stores such as Wal-Mart, Watsons, and Suning. Visitors to Nanjing will definitely want to spend a day in this bustling shopping paradise!

Hunan Road

With a length of 1,100 meters and a width of 30 meters, Hunan Road is a famous business street in Nanjing City and is ranked as the second most popular street in Nanjing after New Territories Street. As a shopping, dining, banking, and entertainment center with exclusive stores from different brands, this road attracts a lot of tourists and is almost always packed.

Shiziqiao Food Street in this area is a paradise for foodies, featuring all types of restaurants including fast food diners and international restaurants. Enjoy local dishes here while strolling around this bustling shopping district!

Fuzimiao Market (Confucius Temple Market)

Fuzimiao Market is one of the best night markets in Nanjing with a convenient location, mainly focusing on wholesales. Although the market is all about small items and handicrafts, you will find anything here, from diverse souvenirs and inexpensive electronic toys to cute t-shirts and delicious snacks with local flavors.

Golden Eagle International Shopping Center

Golden Eagle is noted for its top luxury brands and collections that are hard to find anywhere else. It is famous for a series of major cosmetic brands such as Vichy, Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, Lancome, and Dior. Many stores with modern styles will make you surprised and amazed as if you were setting foot in Europe. Additionally, visitors will also find electrical appliances, jewelry, and personal items for daily use here. Walking around this international shopping center will definitely be an exciting experience!

In addition to the souvenirs and famous shopping locations that we have suggested, Nanjing offers many other interesting things that you can easily see right on the streets. Hope you will have a perfect trip with lovely things to bring back!

Where to stay in Nanjing?

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Pullman Nanjing Lukou Airport (Agoda, Booking)
• Kempinski Hotel Nanjing (Agoda, Booking)
• Jinling Hotel Nanjing (Agoda, Booking)
• Holiday Inn Nanjing Qinhuai South Suites, an IHG hotel (Agoda, Booking)
• InterContinental Nanjing (Agoda, Booking)
• Shangri-La Nanjing (Agoda, Booking)
• Marriott Nanjing South Hotel (Agoda, Booking)
• Grand Metropark Hotel Nanjing (Agoda, Booking)

Check out more top & best hotels in Nanjing on Agoda.com or Booking.com

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Nanjing you can refer to

• Porcelain Tower of Nanjing
• Nanjing Presidential Palace Ticket
• Nanjing City Private Car Charter
• Daming Mansion Zhanyuan Garden Ticket in Nanjing
• Chaotian Palace Ticket in Nanjing (For Mainland China ID Holders)
• Nanjing Zhouyuan Ticket
• Yufa Ecotourism Area Ticket in Nanjing
• Ziqinghu Hotspring Ticket in Nanjing
• Hongshan Forest Zoo Ticket in Nanjing (For Mainland Chinese Citizens Only)
• Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum Ticket

Read more China guide here and Nanjing guide here.