Eat Off Your Face!


Really personalized plates
It's fantastic to have a picture of you and your lover painted on a top-quality porcelain plate, right? You can make it happen at the Jingdezhen Artistic Porcelain Shop.

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

Ocarina or Xun?

 


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

 

Crystals for Good Health


My "hairy" bracelet!
There are several bracelets in my jewelry box, but my favorite one is a rutilated Quartz bracelet, I wear it almost every day.

 

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

Lovely Jewelry Boxes for My Girlfriend


Cute little jewelry boxes
Yesterday I bought a 3-piece set of small, delicate porcelain jewelry boxes at a Jingdezhen porcelain shop in Beijing. I will send them to my girlfriend to keep the necklace and rings I gave her.

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

Intangible Cultural Heritage of China—No.1 Iron Pa...


Eerily lifelike iron paintings
I couldn't believe it until I saw this shop, but there are gorgeous paintings made of iron in Beijing!

 

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

Real ostrich eggs, too big for Easter!


My little panda
Fell in love with: a pair of ostrich eggs engraved with animal patterns.

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

Pipes for Smokers


My new old pipe
"You know a good shop for a smoker like you?" Cathryn asked me with a mysterious smile.

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

Pets Never Die


Someone's old dog scruffy!
This is a paradise for past pets! Watching the lively dogs, cats, frogs, and various kinds of birds, I can't believe they are already dead.

This taxidermy shop uses only real animals!

When your beloved pet dies, you can't do anything with it, but say goodbye.

But come to this shop! They will help your dead pets live again, and keep you company everyday!

By: C. Liu

What a gift!


Teapot for my g/f
My girlfriend has limitless enthusiasm for displaying cute little items on our shelves. So today I went to an Yixing teapot shop and bought her a beautiful purple clay teapot.

She loves it like crazy! And there is a nice love poem engraved into the belly. Rare teapots have little touches like this. She is apparently fond of what it reads: you're water, I'm mud, and we mix up, never to be separated.

Haha!

Maybe this lovely Yixing teapot will give her a big enough hint to brew me a good cup of tea when I get back from work!

Author: D. Cheng

A Little Kite's Wild Dream to Fly


Mini kite I saw in Beijing
Believe it or not, this miniature kite can fly in the sky!

Its cute swallow's head made me laugh the first time I saw it. Its colorful painted body and wings look so light.

I just wonder how fast and brave it can fly. But hope it won't be swallowed by some hawk passing by. For safety, I would rather hang it on the wall, and not bring it outside.

And you know what? A kite in this shape is seen as very lucky in China, so hopefully tomorrow I'll have another great find to show you!

By: C. Liu


 
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