Innovative Gift Ideas for Last Minute Shopping

The holidays are a gift-wrapped opportunity for you to express affection for friends, lovers and parents in a tangible way. If you pride yourself on giving innovative presents, here’s a few places to look as you do that last minute Christmas shopping.

Brand Nü
Offers a lovely collection of minority-inspired linen and cotton laptop covers that are handsewn by a women’s group from China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation. These make exotic yet affordable gifts (RMB 40).

Tue-Sun 10am-10pm (closed Mon). 61 Wudaoying Hutong (just west of Vineyard Cafe), Dongcheng District (150 1115 3421)
东城区五道营胡同61号

Lost and Found
This store’s vintage knickknacks from the ’70s and ’80s include an old-fashioned telephone, an electronic fan, clocks, a sewing machine – all of them one-of-a-kind. If antiques sound impractical, consider a set of retro-themed thermos bottles as a stylish, down-to-earth gift.

Daily 10.30am-8pm. 42 Guozijian Dajie, Dongcheng District (6401 1855)
失物招领, 东城区国子监大街42号

DimSum of All Things Asian (D-SATA)
Choose from a Christmas line of Thai silk totes, snakeskin bags with handles of hand-buffed horn, handbags of buntal weave, and bags crocheted from
recycled tubing and ribbon. All products are eco-friendly and come “gift-wrapped” in a cute bamboo steamer.

Unit A116, 1/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Beilu, Chaoyang District (8559 1587)
亚点亚心, 朝阳区三里屯北路81号那里花园A116室

Shengtangxuan
The 90-year-old artisan of this tiny store has devoted his life to crafting traditional lao Beijing-style toys. The skills that produce these paper dolls, clay sculptures, puppets, embroidered tiger shoes are a disappearing art form.

Daily 9am-7pm. 38 Guozijian Jie, Dongcheng District (8404 7179)
盛唐轩, 东城区国子监街38号

Shanghai Tang
If money is no object, this label offers no shortage of tempting items with a strong Chinese flavor: silver sculpted dragon cufflinks, men’s velvet slippers embroidered with the “Tibetan knot,” a silver-plated dragon bookmark, a “Bauhaus” silk clutch with crystal appliqué. You’ll find a gift here for everyone back home – especially if you waited until the last minute …

Boarding Gate 12, International Departure Lounge, Beijing Capital International Airport, Shunyi District (6459 8180)
上海滩顺义区首都机场国际出港区12号登机口免税专卖区
More locations at www.shanghaitang.com