[derek murray]

I have made a number of trips to China and have worked in Beijing, Tangshan, and Kunming. I have found that most legitimate name brand goods are priced on par or are more expensive than here in North America.

The great deals to bring home are pearls and silkes, particularily scarves (great for the gals not so great for the guys). If you go to any of the pearl or silk markets you will find North American and Europeans literally buying suitcases full.

There are knockoffs of everything, everywhere... some of exceptional quality, others not... bring a chinese person to negotiate price (its worse than mexico). Unless something is being bought at a high end department store, in the middle of the Embassy or Business districts consider it a fake.