Combo-modern and traditional store

I saw a good example of this in some stylish yet traditional cheongsams for women.

These cotton-made cheongsams really seemed to have a style of their own: old and new.

One that featured tiny, light-blue flowers sewn along blue lines looked very special with its large neckband and triangle shape.

It only cost 50 dollars.

By A. Lao

Shadow performance

Normally I would only visit shops with gorgeous stones and paintings. Never had I thought I would also be attracted to a puppet shop. But yesterday I was.

I like the puppets in Ji Gu Ge for the following reasons:

• 1. Well crafted, I especially like this ancient general with intricate details.
• 2. Traditional and Chines , more Chinese than even porcelain!
• 3. Unique designs
• 4. A sense of mystery (As all good art should have)

By A.Lao

Shirts and tea

"Oriental Palace" has a tea house with tea like Da Hongpao and Tie Guanyin on one side, and a clothes store with traditional cheongsams on the other.

I noticed a traditional sleeveless frock with a traditional golden phoenix pattern. I love how smooth the silk felt.

By A.Lao

Really personalized plates

An artist from Jingdezhen, ‘the Capital of Porcelain', is always painting a plate here. Just give him a photo, and he will paint your own design. You can even pick up your personalized plate the next day.

You can also have your name painted on a teacup. It only costs about 3 US dollars!

By J. Jia

Ancient instruments

I never knew what an ocarina was, or how it related to China, until I found this shop called "New Vista."

The shop assistant told me an ocarina is a European version of the ancient Chinese musical instrument "Xun." They have an almost identical design.

When she played it, the sound seemed to have come from a distant place.

By A. Lao

My "hairy" bracelet!

I hear different crystals have different elements inside, so they also have different functions. Some Chinese crystals can even keep you healthy.

This one is very unique with these shiny "hairs" inside. Especially under the sunshine, it feels really good to have it on.

--by Cathryn

Cute little jewelry boxes

What I like best is the pattern on them -- a pair of lovely pandas, China's national treasures, are playing on a lawn with bamboo. My girlfriend will like them very much as well.

And what is more, they are made in Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital!

By J. Jia

Eerily lifelike iron paintings

What a strange form of art.

They were just as lifelike as ink paintings.

The black-and-white color pattern is simple and charming.

--by Cathryn

My little panda

Touching the surface of the eggs, I felt the elevated carvings made out of cloisonné.

I bought an egg with pandas. It only cost me a couple bucks!

Well, quite worth it!

By: C. Liu

My new old pipe

Then she took me to the Yan Dai Xie Jie and pointed me to a small shop called "Bangbang Pipe," where I bought a unique maize shuck pipe that cost just 85 yuan (a little over 10 US dollars).

I wanted to thank her with a stylish red pipe that would make her look so cool.

But she wouldn't let me!

So that means I'll never see her posing as a sexy, 19th century lady with a red pipe?

By A. Lao