Shanghai A.P. Xinyang Fashion & Gifts Market, Shanghai

What to buy here: Pearls: China is the largest producer of pearls in the world and buying beautiful necklaces and earrings here is cheaper than anywhere else. There are many different types of pearls: those from fresh water, usually lower quality and much cheaper and those coming from the South Sea, more expensive and better quality. The difference of the price is also determined by the size, the shape and the color. Perfectly round pearls are more difficult to find and therefore more expensive. Real color for pearls, apart from the common white, can be peach, pink, grey, black and golden. Beautiful black and especially golden pearls are only from the sea.

To recognize real pearls is very easy: scrape it with scissors or even with your teeth: a fine white sand will come out and once you wipe it off the pearl will not be damaged. Prices vary consistently, they can go from Y60 for a set of necklace and earrings of fresh water pearls, to Y1000 for only one big golden pearl from the South Sea.

The best places for pearls in Shanghai are the shopping center AP Xinyang Fashion & Gifts Market, under ground in the Science and Technology Museum metro station on line 2, and Hongqiao International Pearl City in 3721 Hongmei Road (Hong Mei Lu, 虹梅路). In Hongqiao International Pearl City find Helen's shop, on the 2nd floor, Room B001: she makes beautiful sets of pearls combined with other stones and colored crystals, and you can even place the order according to your taste.