The Best Beijing Gifts as Voted for by the Great Chinese Public

As the default ambassador to China in your family, the pressure to bring back neat gifts that perfectly encapsulate your time in Beijing can get old very quickly. In an effort to alleviate some of the frustration (and promote their goods), Beijing Gifts, a local gift shop chain endorsed by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, recently announced the results of a vote collating the public's most popular Beijing gifts.

The list, which was compiled from 1.5 million votes, includes everything from traditional handicrafts, PLA soldier figurines, Peking opera masks, Beijing delicacies, TCM products, and more. Perhaps unsurprisingly, some of these gifts only available at Beijing Gifts’ 20 offline stores, directories for which can be found here. In a way, if they can't be found on Taobao, doesn't that automatically make them special?

Below are a few of the better options with links to where they can be purchased online:

Bluetooth KTV microphone (RMB 399)
Conspicuously glossing over its shape, this Changba wireless Bluetooth-enabled microphone with built-in speaker is the perfect way to kick off your own KTV party wherever you may be. Simply link it to your music app of choice while on the subway, in a restaurant, or biding time in your dentist's waiting room and get belting like your life depends on it.

Tang Ren Fang Peking opera dolls (RMB 88-488)
You may not be able to play with these dolls like a Barbie, but their beautifully detailed and handcrafted costumes and features will instead leave you in awe. Available in various shapes and sizes, they make a good substitute for anyone who has not yet traveled to Beijing to witness the real thing.

Jitufang "Rabbit God" good luck charms (RMB 198)
If you're looking for something a little more kitsch, Jitufang's clay-molded figurines, are not only suitable for all ages but also come with a fun story behind them: that of the mythical, moon-dwelling, elixir-making Jade Rabbit who came down to Earth to save us mere mortals from a deadly plague, and therefore is often considered a lucky charm that will protect children from the illness. The rabbit, which also can reportedly change its gender, is usually depicted in non-gender-specific costumes but as a figurine usually wears a red robe or decorative armor.

Ruyi decorative ornaments and jewelry (various prices)
Ruyi ("as you wish") is a Chinese time-honored brand that makes various ornamental objects that allude to jewelry and more functional pieces found throughout Chinese history. For instance, the object above was actually once a weapon in ancient China, before it became a prototype for a back scratcher in more peaceful times. Now, in this smaller model, it simply serves as a beautiful gift to help your loved ones ward off evil spirits.

Buyingzhai cloth shoes (RMB 185-268)
Another fun gift are Buyingzhai's selection of old-school Chinese cloth shoes. They offer slip-on options for men and women and all come reasonably priced. We're especially fond of the padded range, which is perfect for indoor slippers or when you're too lazy to put on shoes to head down to the shop.

Huadu erguotou (RMB 216)
No gift list would be complete with at least one nod towards China's most infamous spirit, baijiu, or its gnarled and occasionally hallucination-inducing cousin erguotou. Huadu's brand of the hard stuff is a collaboration between Beijing's soccer team Guo'an, giving a local spin on this hair-on-your-chest, vomit-in-the-squatter classic. We don't recommend you imbibe too much before you head to a match, however, unless you want to tempt being out cold by half-time.

Imperial Kitchen artisanal pastries (RMB 199-2,680)
Finally, it's not a true Chinese gift if the packaging isn't as bewitching as the product within. One of the finest examples of this inner-outer harmony can be found at Imperial Kitchen (御茶膳房), whose range of artisanal pastries and teas are packaged in such beautifully designed boxes that they're almost a match for the immaculate cakes within.

READ: The Ultimate Last-Minute Beijing Holiday Gift Guide for Every Person You Know

Images courtesy of the vendors