China Travel - Shopping and Markets #RTW

Shopping in China

One of the great pleasures
in China are the markets
and on this big shopping day

Mom and daughter shopping in China trip at Xian Muslim Quarter

One of the great pleasures in China are the markets and on this big shopping day in America, I am remembering the fun of recently bargaining in China outdoor markets.

Here you see us enjoying the Muslim Quarter, which was the eastern most point of the famous ancient Silk Road trading route between Europe and Xi'an ( 西安 ) used for hundreds of years. The exotic sights and sounds of Old China haven't changed much here and one feels like Marco Polo discovering it for the first time.

We certainly had advantages with a Mandarin speaking kid with us who has bargained at markets around the world, taught by her father, the king of frugal. We still smile as we look at some of the gorgeous ( albeit small and portable for this minimalist family) souvenirs that we got in China and have displayed in our winter home in tropical Penang.

Xi'an is one of the oldest cities in the world, the former capital of China through many of the most importanT dynasties in Chinese history and dates back over 3000 years. People have settled in the area for over 6,500 years and it was the thriving largest city in the world when Europe was engulfed in the dark ages.

MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD

More on Xi'an and China coming, but here are some more blog posts about markets around the world:

BHUTAN FOOD MARKETS

FOOD SHOPPING SAN SEBASTIAN

COTSWOLDS MARKET ENGLAND

CHRISTMAS IN EUROPE PHOTO FANTASY

CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN EUROPE

NORWAY FISH MARKET

SHOPPING AND HAND CRAFTS MOROCCO

Where is your favorite place to shop around the world?