Not for the jaded

Hualin Jade Articles Plaza is the oldest market in Guangzhou, and is famous for its congregation of jade, silver, traditional medicine and antique shops. Clustered in a maze of narrow streets are hundreds of tiny outlets with countless items for sale.

With so much choice, making a decision is a challenge. Any item of jade carving alone can be counted in the hundreds, with only slight differences of green shading to differentiate them. And jade comes in a wide variety of forms – bangles, earrings and necklaces, to name just a few. Men be warned, if you venture in here with a female companion, you might never be able to leave. It’s also a good idea to have a local companion to help haggle with the shopkeepers.

The market’s antiques are all copies, but even if they are not the real thing, the dusty terracotta warriors that guarded the mausoleum of the first Emperor of Qin (260–210 BC) make for fascinating browsing.

Shopping aside, the Jade Market is worth a visit simply to experience old Guangzhou, with its rows of shop-houses, and residents loitering to chat in the street. The adventurous can also pause for lunch at one of the many small restaurants, most of which serve up bowls of soup noodles and won ton for around 5 yuan.