Faça compras de lembranças no Mercado de Pérolas de Hongqiao

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Snabba fakta: Shoppers can find over 1,000 stalls spread across five floors, each packed with freshwater and saltwater pearls at negotiable prices. The market also sells coral, jade, and custom jewelry settings, with many vendors offering on-the-spot pearl drilling and stringing.

Höjdpunkter: Vendors here let you pick live pearls directly from opened oyster shells, then drill and string them into a custom necklace or bracelet within minutes. You can feel the smooth, cool surface of a freshly extracted pearl still slightly warm from the oyster, an experience you won't find in standard jewelry shops.

Insidertips

• Bring a small flashlight or phone light to check pearls for surface flaws and luster in the bright market lights.
• Head to the upper floors first: ground-floor stalls mark up prices for tourists, while upper-level vendors offer better deals.
• Ask vendors to let you sort through loose pearl strands yourself instead of accepting the first tray offered.
• If you want a custom setting, bring your own gold or silver chain to save on metal costs and compare at least three stalls before buying.

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