From China with Love: Top 10 Chinese Gifts for Christmas

We know some of you are still searching for the very special gifts to bring home, although Christmas is less than two weeks away. Don’t panic, look thought the list we put together, and you may need to look no further. Feel free to offer more ideas by leaving a comment.

Suanpan (Chinese abacus) 算盘
Although rarely used nowadays, suanpan were the primary tool for calculating and doing math exercise for students and business owners before the electronic calculator was popularized in China. Can be bought at Panjiayuan Antique Market.
 

The People's Liberation Army Shoe 解放鞋
The 1950s trend has made a comeback as a fashion must-have for young hipsters and expats. Can be found in someof the small shops at Nanluoguxiang and Taobao.

Paper Cuts 剪纸
What’s better than a red paper cut (not the painful kind) on the window to spruce up the decorations during festivals? Can be bought at Silk Market, Yashow Market and Taobao.

Training Chopsticks 训练筷子
No more frustrations with chopsticks. They really work for kids and beginners! Can be bought on Taobao.

Lei Feng Hat 雷锋帽
Stylish, cute and super warm, the Lei Feng hat is named after national hero and model citizen Lei Feng. Can be found in some of the small shops at Nanluoguxiang and on Taobao.

Porcelain/China 瓷器
The art of ceramics is so entwined with Chinese culture that porcelain is also called “china” in English. You can find the five markets to get porcelain here.

Red Dragon Silk Tie 丝绸领带
A little tacky? Perhaps. But how can you argue with the color red, a dragon and silk? Can be bought via Amazon.com.

Mahjong Set 麻将
Once you learn the rules of this classic Chinese game, you'll understand why locals spend day in, day out playing it. Can be bought on Taobao and Tianyi Market.

Cooling Oil 清凉油
This handy minty oil soothes mosquito bites, headaches and wakens the mind better than any Red Bull. Can be bought at any of the Tongrentang pharmacies and Taobao.

The Scholar's "Four Treasures" 文房四宝
Get your friends or family into Chinese calligraphy by offering them wenfang sibao, the scholar's four treasures (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper). Can be bought at the Panjiayuan Antique Market and Silk Market.

Authored by Clemence Jiang and Morgan Shang

Photos: hto2008, Silk Road Collection, bforat, and SpAvAAi (Flickr)

This post originally appeared on beijing-kids.com.