Luohu Commercial Centre

Looming large over the plaza outside the border crossing, this shopping center is not the most elegantly designed building, but then it doesn’t need to be. Despite the constant irritation of touts pushing fake DVDs and watches, it is the place to get anything your heart desires or your home requires – for a fraction of the cost anywhere else.

Just ignore the touts – telling them “no thanks” is a sure way to convince them that you simply want a better price, and so they will follow you for longer.

The best way to start is at the top. Charging straight up to the fifth floor allows you to leave the touts behind, get in some dim sum at one of the two restaurants (the Laurel is best, but good luck trying to get a table), and then take your time wandering down. The tailors are reliable and (mostly) trustworthy, while the artwork, especially the embroidery, can offer genuine quality.