Amazing colored glaze items in Beijing
As a famous integration of traditional Chinese culture, colored glaze is increasingly popular. With a long history of more than 2,000 years, colored glaze, aka Liuli, is a unique art form that looks almost like glass. Can you imagine that making each figurine takes 20 days?! They are shiny and almost transparent.
In the Bai Gong Handicraft Museum near the Beijing Guang Xi Hotel, I found a shop named “Bai Yi De Kun.” There are many gorgeous colored glaze items displayed in the shop. Also, they offer many necklaces, pendants, and bracelets.
According to shop assistant, Liuli is very durable, even as hard as jade. Their best-selling item is a pendant called “Yuan Meng,” which means ‘realizing one’s dream.’ It is a glittering, translucent blue circular pendant with a 14K white gold necklace. I found it graceful and mysterious, and could see why it was so popular.
There are also many things you could give as a gift, such as a Peking Opera-decorated folding screen. I had a very good time in this shop!
Do you like fancy silverware?
If you like silverware, I recommend a little shop near the Beijing NingXia Hotel that has sterling silver flatware, silver accessories, and amber ware, all at very good prices. They even have some antiques mixed in with their modern designs!
When you first visit the shop, maybe you will feel their products look the same as those in other shops. But if you look carefully, you will notice the special material and exquisite craftsmanship of Nepal, India, and Tibet.
My favorite item was a classic silver ring featuring a 4mm square gem in the middle and 2.5mm stones on the sides that alternate blue and clear. This polished ring made of sterling silver is priced at only RMB 388.
Other items are not very expensive, and were usually between RMB 10 and RMB 1,000. The owner of the shop is from Nepal, and he can speak some English. He knows everything about the products and will help you to find your favorite item.
You must log in to post a comment.