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Shopping
Looking for that perfect gift for a friend? Want to bring something special back to your home country? Jingxi is a great place to shop for unique items at very affordable prices. And don't forget to bargain... products that are not marked with a price tag can typically be bought cheaper just for the asking. It's a good idea to start by asking about 60% of what the seller tells you, and work back and forth until you agree on a price.
  Zhuang Embroidered Handicrafts
Perhaps the most popular product in Jingxi County is the xiuqiu, or silk ball which symbolizes love and friendship in the Zhuang culture. For years these finely embroidered balls were used in traditional marriage courtship, and the quality of handiwork was a measure by which a bride-to-be was judged. If her embroidery was considered good, she would be a good wife as well. Today these balls have become a symbol of the Zhuang Nationality and are used at official ceremonies to denote friendship and good will.
These balls and other hand-embroidered items are available at many stores throughout Jingxi, but the best place to buy them is in Jiuzhou, where the streets are lined with villagers selling their crafts. The balls range in price and size from 6 RMB for the smallest to hundreds of RMB for the largest. Other shapes like hearts and disks are available too.
  Zhuang Brocade Factory
No shopping day is complete without a visit to the Jingxi Zhuang Brocade Factory. Here you can buy beautiful silk brocades in a variety of sizes and colors. Framed brocades, small purses, and wall hangings are also available. In the back of the shop you can watch local Zhuang women weaving their brocades using the same kind of looms they have used for centuries. The shop is located on the second floor of a breakfast cafeteria two blocks east of Minquan Road.
  Longbang Border Trade Area
Interested in imported products from Vietnam? You can buy such items in several small shops in Jingxi City, but the best selection can be found at the Longbang Border Trade Area about one hour south of Jingxi, on the Vietnamese border. Jack fruit chips, Vietnamese coffee, and pointed straw hats are among the items you will find for sale along the border. You can take a bus to Longbang from the Jingxi South Bus Station, or hire a van with a driver. Be sure to bring your passport as you will need it when you enter the border control area.
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