Top 10 Souvenirs in Shanghai

Plan your Shanghai Tour? Shanghai is the largest city in China. There are many exotic and unusual things to buy in Shanghai which make wonderful souvenirs and gifts for relatives and friends back home.  If you are wondering what to buy during your Shanghai Tour, the flowing is a listing of top 10 souvenirs in Shanghai for your reference.

Wood Carving （上海木雕）

Shanghai Wood Carving is classified by the material: whitewood, redwood and boxwood. Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool held in the hand, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine or in the ornamentation of a wooden object.

It also refers to the finished product, from individual sculptures, to hand-worked mouldings composing part of a tracery. You can find wood carving sold in many markets of  Shanghai.

Jiading Bamboo Carving （嘉定竹雕）

Jiading bamboo carving is the largest school in China’s bamboo carving history. It is popular in Jiading, Shanghai. The bamboo carving artists of Jiading integrate calligraphy, painting, poem, literature and printing on bamboo with a knife, and inject new life into bamboo.

The handicrafts of Jiangding carving include: pencil vase, table screen and embracing pair, etc, which are made from bamboo tubes and bamboo chips; figures, landscape, plants and flowers, and animals which are made from bamboo roots.

Shanghai Laofengxiang （上海老凤祥）

With more than 150-year history, Lao Fengxiang, which was established in 1848 is a centurial brand in Chinese jewelry business trade. Lao Fengxiang has won the title of Shanghai Top Brand Product nine times serially.

It is also a Shanghai famous trademark and it is the earliest one that got the title of China Famous Trademark in Chinese jewelry business line. If you want to buy jewelries in Shanghai, Laofengxiang is a good choice for you.

Dough Sculpture （上海面塑）

Shanghai Dough Sculpture has a history more than 100 years. With the development for hundreds of years, it has become a part of China culture and folk art. Shanghai Dough Sculpture is made of glutinous rice powder. When the dough model become solid, artist will color the model and make them become lively.

Shanghai famous artist Zhao Kuoming is the master of Shanghai dough figurines. His works cover a wide range of subjects which can be found in traditional drama, myths and legends.

Woolen Needlepoint Tapestry （上海绒绣）

Shanghai Woolen Needlepoint Tapestry is one of the famous Chinese arts and crafts. Productions can be divided into two types. One of them emphasizes the appreciation value, while the other one prefer to express the practicability.

Contents in screens include the copy of famous Chinese scenery paintings and ancient characters. And the other type of production is commodity. Small items, such as sofa cover, purse and handbag, belong to this kind. Some of the Shanghai needlepoint works had been recognized as masterpieces at home and abroad, such as the works named The Great Wall and Thousands of Flowers in Bloom.

Lacquer Ware  （上海漆器）

Shanghai lacquer ware is well known to art collectors worldwide, and is the result of some of the finest craftsmanship techniques in the world. Lacquer ware is created by applying lacquer to wooden objects to give it a fine finish and luster.

The Shanghai Museum has many wonderful examples of Chinese lacquerware furniture. Many were so beautifully carved and inlaid with excellent Chinese works of art depicting traditional Chinese themes.

Shanghai Jade Carvings （上海玉雕）

The Shanghai jade carvings are usually one of four forms: vases, characters, flowers or beasts. Of these, the vase is the most advanced and well-known. A variety of vases, stoves, tripods, wine containers, cups, cases, lamps are also made.

Molded pieces include: three-legged stove, four-legged stove, crane stove, phoenix stove, eagle stove and so on. Shanghai jade carvers are the most skilled and use every bit of the jade’s natural shape, color and luster to design and carve based on the original material.

Cao Sugong Ink （上海曹素功墨）

Calligraphy is one of the great elements in Chinese culture, so the ink quality is a factor in looking of a calligraphic work. As well as fine art itself, ancient Chinese ink articles are collectors’ treasure.

Since Qing Dynasty, Cao Sugong ink had developed. And due to its smooth quality and nice color, this kind of ink became one of the inks used in imperial palaces. If you are one of the Chinese calligraphy fans, you can take a bottle of this ink in Shanghai Cao Su Gong Ink Shop.

Jiading Straw Handicraft （上海嘉定嘉定黄草编）

Shanghai Jiading District of XuHang Township is famous for the special straw. Smooth, soft and tough are the characteristics of Jiading straws. The straw handicraft is the highlight of this town. The excellent workmanship and the attractive style make this production become an appropriate souvenir in Shanghai.

About 1,000 kinds of basketries are produced in Jiading, such as handbags, fruit basins, slippers and so on. This artwork also conveys the idea of environmental protection.

Shanghai Qipao （上海旗袍）

If you ask Chinese who is the most attractive woman in China, people may tell you that a woman who is dressing in Qipao. Qipao, a symbol of the traditional Chinese beauty, played a very important role during the Old Shanghai  period.

The Shanghai Qipao was formed in the 1930s. At that time, designs like western dress turndown collar, V-neck, ruffle collar, ruffle sleeves and slit-sleeves were introduced to Qipao making. Later, there appeared revolutionized qipao with bust darts, waist darts, inset sleeves and shoulder slits, with some having shoulder pads to bring out the nice figure.

Add-on

Top 10 Markets in Shanghai
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Shanghai
Top 10 Souvenirs in Shanghai

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself bus route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for guided tours to Shanghai:

Shanghai Tour
Shanghai Day Tour
Shanghai Multi-Day Tour
Shanghai Evening Tour
Shanghai Cruise Port ( Transfer& Excursions )
Shanghai Beijing Tour
Shanghai Xian Tour
Shanghai Car Rental with Driver

Further Readings

Top 10 Attraction in Shanghai
Shanghai’s Top 10 Iconic Landmarks
Top 10 Markets in Shanghai
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Shanghai
Top 10 Things to Do at night in Shanghai
Best Places for Autumn Leaves in Shanghai
Top 10 Things to Do in Winter in Shanghai
Top 10 Souvenirs in Shanghai
Top 10 Photo Spots in Shanghai
10 Non-Touristy Things to Do in Shanghai

Any questions, just drop a line.