What to buy in Chengdu? 13+ must-have Chengdu souvenirs & best things to buy in Chengdu

Traveling to China, traditional hats will be a gift that brings you a unique blend of classic and modern. These hats are not simply a fashion accessory, but also works of art that carry a deep mark of the long-standing culture and tradition of Chengdu.

Looking at the traditional Chengdu hats, you will be transported back to the ancient times, when the locals wore traditional costumes. Each hat is a vivid picture of how Chengdu people maintain and combine the classic beauty and modern sophistication.

Herbal cosmetics – a combination of beauty and herbs

If you are looking for a unique and useful gift for women, herbal makeup products can be a great choice. Chengdu is famous for its use of herbs in beauty, and herbal makeup products are a way for you to bring back a combination of beauty and health for your loved ones.

Chinese herbal medicine

Chengdu dubbed the “hometown of Chinese medicine”. They are traditional medicines from herbs, seeds, and dried fruits that are very good for the body, suitable for you to buy as gifts, especially for the elderly. Chinese herbs in Sichuan often treat headaches, insomnia, bloating, and are very useful for health. You can easily find them at local herbal medicine markets in Chengdu.

In addition, products made from silk such as scarves, clothes, and wallets, bags,… are all souvenirs for women that are loved and chosen by many tourists. Silk is processed delicately, has high quality and is imbued with the characteristics of traditional Chinese culture.

Bian Lian (Face Changing) masks and dolls

Masks are also a great suggestion for you to bring back as gifts. For Sichuanese art culture, this is one of the props for artists to perform “face changing” the Sichuan opera performances. If you have ever watched opera performances here, this item will certainly be familiar. The masks have different colors representing the shades of human beings. If the red mask is anger, the black one is a crazy rage.

Besides items above, there are countless other souvenirs that you can choose from such as: jade pendants, figurines, jewelry, handicrafts, wooden souvenirs or panda-themed gifts. We are sure you will find quite a few gifts here.

Where to buy in Chengdu?

Below these are the best shopping places in Chengdu that we have compiled you can refer to.

Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street – Yanshi Kou – Luoma Shi districts

Chunxi Road is home to a large shopping center in Chengdu. This street was established in 1924 and has remained the busiest until now. Here, you can find attractive clothing brands and restaurants in more than 700 stalls. The source of goods in this shopping center is extremely rich and has competitive prices, especially for fashion items.

To serve the needs as well as attract the attention of consumers, all the stalls in the area sell unique and special items. You will definitely find many interesting things here to buy as gifts for everyone.

Crossing Chunxi Road to the south is Yanshi Kou – a favorite shopping destination for young girls. They often choose this place to find hot deals on fashion clothes and accessories. In the bustling atmosphere of thousands of shoppers, you will find many interesting joys.

Luomashi street located at the intersection of Chunxi Road and Zongfu Road is also an place where you can shop all day long. Here, besides the usual souvenirs, you will encounter ancient bookstores, Chinese and European architecture and great restaurants. There are two shopping options for you: shopping in the shopping malls or choosing from the sidewalk stalls.

Zongfu Road

If you are walking around to explore Tianfu Square or shopping on Chunxi Road, don’t forget to stop by Zongfu Road. This area has many large stalls selling everything you need. The shopping mall in Zongfu is a shopping complex with items from clothing, cosmetics, souvenirs to high-quality restaurants. Coming here, you will find extremely impressive Chinese-style souvenirs. We recommend two good shops here: Renhe Spring and Wangfujing Department Store.

Qintai Road – the place for jewelry shopping

In the stories of the ancients, Qintai Road is the mark of a beautiful love of the couple Sima Xiangru and Zhuo Wenjun. Nowadays, visitors are extremely impressed with the ancient architectural works along that road. If you have the opportunity to come here at night, the scene before your eyes will be thousands of times more wonderful.

Not only an attractive scenic spot, Qintai is also famous as Chengdu’s jewelry street. In the shops on the street, people sell all kinds of items from silver, gold, precious stones, pearls that are elaborately crafted. Therefore, this is also considered one of the most luxurious streets in Chengdu. This shopping place in Chengdu is where men find the right item to give to their loved ones. As for women, this is one of the paradises to honor their proud beauty. With a variety of products and reputable quality, you will find a valuable souvenir at Qintai Street.

Wuhouci Cross Street

If you are impressed by the Tibetan decorations, Wuhouci Cross Street will definitely bring you many attractive choices. This place is like a real Tibetan district. This is where the locals show off their unique lifestyle and sell handmade products. We can mention some special items such as prayer rings, clothes, cowboy hats, statues, Thangka paitings and traditional dishes.

You can choose brocade scarves, sweaters or cloth bags as gifts for relatives. During your journey to explore this neighborhood, don’t forget to recharge your batteries with unique Tibetan dishes. This is a rare opportunity for you to enjoy new flavors such as yak milk, fried yak meat served with potatoes or traditional bread.

IFS Mall

IFS Mall is the abbreviation of Chengdu International Finance Square. This is one of the newest members among shopping centers in the city. IFS was just opened in 2014 and is currently one of the most trendy shopping places in the area.

Within the IFS campus, visitors have the opportunity to access and shop with world-class brands such as Dior, Lane Crawford, Dolce & Gabana or Prada. Not just a simple shopping center, this place is also the most modern dining and entertainment complex with an ice skating rink, IMAX cinema and dozens of good restaurants.

While shopping, don’t forget to check in the giant panda climbing the wall. Since the opening of IFS, this symbol has gradually become a major tourist attraction in the area.

Taikoo Li Shopping Center

Taikoo Li is a place right next to IFS that you should not miss. If the above suggestion is too expensive for your budget, the next area will be the perfect choice. For many people, this is a great shopping center. The atmosphere in Taikoo Li is full of art with a bit of tradition. You can find many local traditional shops or domestic brands here. The prices of these items will be at an average level for you to shop freely without worrying about “hurting your wallet”.

New Century Global Center

Another shopping destination that you should not miss is the massive New Century Global Center. Up to now, this place still holds the position of the largest building in the world because of its huge floor area. That makes this center have a huge capacity for items for you to choose from. A small minus point is that this place is not in the city center, so you have to travel a distance to reach the shopping paradise. All the items you need are available from clothes, souvenirs, jewelry, accessories, … After your feet are tired, you can relax in the IMAX cinema or go skiing on the ice floor. It is definitely a great experience.

Jinli Street

If you are wondering which street is the best shopping place in the city, the answer is Jinli. This area is one of the most popular shopping place for tourists because of its diverse stalls selling souvenirs and unique street food. Jinli Street was listed in the top 10 busiest commercial streets in the country in 2005. It is also the oldest shopping place in the city. Therefore, you will witness the authentic daily life of Chengdu residents with authentic culture.

Walking around Jinli Street, you will find many “specialties” that can only be found here. Exquisite Shu embroidery, ceramics, and panda-themed items will make you want to bring everything home. Above all, don’t forget to buy some refrigerator panda magnets and stuffed bears to give to everyone.

Wide and Narrow Alley

Wide and Narrow Alley is not only an extremely attractive place for tourists because of its wonderful scenery. Here, you can also find many souvenir shops along the street. The items are now made in a classic style to suit the trend of young people. You will find cups or cloth bags designed with classic shapes used during the war by the Communists. These items are not only beautiful but also remind people of a long time ago during the war.

Kuan Zhai Alley

If you are on a journey to find a place that sells unique souvenirs, remember the name Kuan Zhai. For Chengdu, this is one of the most famous places. But before you start your gift hunt, recharge your batteries with a delicious rice cake sold on the street.

Areas around universities in the city

Chengdu is one of the areas with many universities in the region. Just like tourists, young students tend to look for and buy unique items at affordable prices. Therefore, souvenir stalls around the university will be a great suggestion. Some common items include snacks, souvenirs, handmade gifts, etc. You can go to major universities in the city such as Sichuan University or the South Gate and North Gate of Wangjiang Dormitory.

Markets in the city

Walking around the flea markets in the city is not a bad idea for you to find unique gifts. Unlike the items in the supermarket, you will discover many new and attractive things from local items. There are items such as snacks, tea, soy sauce, sauces, handicrafts, etc. that you cannot find elsewhere. Do you want to surprise your friends with instant marinated chicken feet? Or simply please everyone with an elegant tea set? We will give you some suggestions such as: Carrefour, Renrenle, or Hongqi Chain Store.

Song Xian Qiao Antique and Art Market

Calligraphy is a unique traditional art form of the Chinese people. A calligraphy is both a graceful stroke of writing and a painting expressing different layers of meaning. You will make a strong impression on your loved ones when you give them a painting full of art and literature from China.

One of the most famous shopping place in Chengdu that we want to introduce to you is Song Xian Qiao. Here, you will be free to search for calligraphy, pens, paper and ink, all of which are used for calligraphy. In addition, this area also sells valuable antiques along with beautiful fake antiques. If you want to buy items that are hundreds of years old, invite a knowledgeable expert to avoid buying poor quality goods.

Your travel journey will be more meaningful when you share it with your loved ones. Buying gifts from Chengdu to give as gifts is a great way. We believe that with the suggestions in the above list, you have found the most suitable gift shopping places for yourself. Rest assured to continue experiencing interesting things in this city and bring back meaningful items.

Some notes when shopping in China

Although shopping in China is quite interesting, to have a great experience, you should pay attention to the following small issues:

• To avoid being “overcharged”, you can negotiate with the shop owner to get the most suitable price.
• Check the quality of the goods carefully before buying. Especially for souvenirs or expensive products such as size, quality, color, …
• You should prioritize going to reputable stores and supermarkets to avoid buying fake, counterfeit or poor quality goods.
• When buying valuable or expensive products, ask for invoices and related documents to facilitate tax payment as well as return goods when needed.
• You should learn clearly about the market price and the real value of the product to avoid being cheated.
• For foods, if possible, try them first to ensure the taste, quality and deliciousness.

The post is complied by Living Nomads from many different sources. If you find any images or text that belong to you, please contact us, so we can credit you or give us permission to use them. Thank you very much!

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

• Dujiangyan Panda Base and Mount Qingcheng Tour from Chengdu
• Chengdu Gourmet Night Group Tour
• Chasing Dawa for 3 days and 2 nights (free Tibetan travel photography + Gedi Ram +
• Dawa Gengza + Shenmu Lei)
• Chengdu Radio and TV Tower Admission Ticket
• Essence of Chengdu City Private Day Tour
• Chengdu Downtown Private Car Charter
• Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class
• Dujiangyan Admission Ticket Chengdu
• Chengdu Food Day Tour with Chengdu Giant Panda Base Ticket
• Dufu’s Thatched Cottage Ticket Chengdu
• Classic Chengdu One Day City Tour
• Giant Buddha and Tea Terrace Town Day Tour from Chengdu
• Chengdu Private Day Tour (With Visit to Chengdu Panda Base and Hotpot Experience)

Read more top places to visit in Chengdu here. Read more China guide here.