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Suzhou is a beautiful city in eastern China, just a short ride from Shanghai, that many people love for its culture, ancient charm, and fast-growing modern side. But besides the temples, parks, and high-rise buildings, the fake markets make it a great shopping spot.
Not everything is fake, obviously, but the products are often of high quality and provide a good alternative if you don't want to pay the high prices of big-name brands.
This is one of the most well-known areas for buying silk. It is located near the Suzhou Silk Museum and Shiquan Street. These places have many shops that sell silk clothes, scarves, bedsheets, and other silk products. Some shops are small and local, while others are set up for tourists.
Here, you will find both real and fake silk. Some shops sell 100% real silk, and they are usually more expensive. But many other shops offer silk blends or fake silk that looks shiny but is actually made from cheaper materials. These cheaper items are often sold as “real silk,” and many tourists don’t notice the difference. Some vendors might not be honest, so it is always a good idea to ask questions or even test the fabric if you can.
The fake items are made to look like high-end products and even come with brand tags or gift boxes. While not all are fakes, a good number of them are not what they claim to be. If you are planning to buy silk in Suzhou, it is a good place to explore, but just be aware of what you are getting.
Weitang is a small town in Suzhou, and it is famous across China for producing freshwater pearls. It is home to a large market called the Weitang Chinese Pearl and Gem City, where people go to buy pearls in bulk or find special deals. You can find pearl necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and even decorative items made from pearls and other gemstones.
Many of the pearls sold here are real and come from local farms. However, you will also find a lot of fake or imitation pearls. Some are made from glass, plastic, or other materials that look very close to real pearls. These fake pearls are usually cheaper and often sold in fancy boxes that make them look expensive. Sometimes, it is hard to even tell the difference, especially for first-time buyers.
Some sellers will tell you honestly if a pearl is fake, but others might not say unless you ask directly, so always take your time, compare different shops, and ask as many questions as you need.
Suzhou has many small street markets and flea markets spread across the city. These are often found in local neighbourhoods, near metro stations, around schools and universities, or outside shopping malls.
They usually appear in the late afternoon or evening and can be found in both busy city areas and quieter local streets. These markets are full of small stalls and street vendors selling clothes, shoes, phone cases, belts, watches, and other everyday essentials.
Some of these sellers offer brand-name products, but most of the time, these are not real. You will see clothes with famous logos, shoes that look like expensive brands, and handbags with fancy names, but they are often copies or “first copies,” and sold at very low prices.
From silk stalls to street markets, Suzhou has plenty to offer for curious shoppers. However, keep your expectations real. Prices vary, and so does the quality. But you just never know what you might find, so take your time, look around, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or bargain.
We are a family of 4 - mother, father and two children. Our aim is to travel the world and review all travel opportunities to help other families.
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