| In between climbing pagodas and snapping pictures | | | | shirt or dress from the silk fabric of your |
| of golden goddesses, most travelers to Asia take | | | | choosing.Because there is no sales tax in Hong Kong |
| time to visit the shopping districts. The quality and | | | | and imported goods are not taxed, designer clothing |
| selection of designer clothing and extravagant items | | | | can be purchased there for excellent prices. Bargains |
| found in shops across Asia will not disappoint those | | | | can be found on cameras and electronics, but make |
| with a penchant for luxury goods. From China to | | | | sure you know the going prices for these items so |
| India, great buys are available for those who know | | | | you'll be able to spot a good deal. Hong Kong is also |
| what to look for.Mainland China is a fantastic place to | | | | an excellent place to buy watches and |
| find extravagant jewelry at discount prices. Jewelry | | | | jewelry.Thailand is another great source for jewelry. |
| markets are filled with glittering gems and beautiful | | | | Unfortunately, dishonest jewelry dealers are plentiful. |
| jade pieces abound. Exquisite strands of high quality, | | | | Never follow any "helpful" individual who offers to |
| lustrous pearls are easy to find in China. When | | | | lead you to a jewelry store with incredible bargains - |
| purchasing jewelry in mainland China, feel free to | | | | it's probably a scam. To avoid being cheated it's best |
| bargain. It's the way business is done in China, and | | | | to deal with a respectable jewelry firm, preferably |
| most owners of small shops expect it.There have | | | | one that is a member of the Jewel Fest Club. The |
| been cases of shopkeepers taking advantage of | | | | Tourism Authority of Thailand founded this reputable |
| tourists, and the best defense is knowledge. If | | | | organization, and member stores are listed in a |
| buying pearls, test them against your teeth for | | | | booklet and display the Jewel Fest Club logo.In India |
| roughness. You might want to test both a real pearl | | | | you can find many items made from the amazing |
| and faux pearl in advance to make sure you can | | | | textiles created in the country. Clothing, tablecloths, |
| recognize the difference. For gems, consider | | | | towels and other household goods are good buys |
| purchasing a jeweler's loupe and learning to use it. Be | | | | here.Jewelry is also a good buy in India, but again, |
| especially careful when buying jade, since it can be | | | | beware of fakes and frauds.John Riggin is Executive |
| difficult to tell true jade from false.Silk is also a good | | | | Editor for the largest and most comprehensive US to |
| buy in China. Stores that sell lengths of fabric and silk | | | | Asia travel website. Where you'll discover the best |
| garments are abundant, and some shops will make a | | | | deals on flights, tours, hotels, cruises and more. |