The city’s main shopping center can be found at Beijing Lu Pedestrian Street, the venue of a host of local shops, including the Mayflower Plaza, which sells anything and everything and is also a favorite hangout of fashionable young people. It’s open daily, from 9am to 10pm. There’s a flourishing DVD piracy trade in this area, but don’t be deceived by the cheap prices because their quality is often poor. And beware of sidewalk vendors who lure you into dark alleys with the promise of big bargains and imitation goods. They are likely to fleece you of everything you have.

The Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street is another popular shopping area that offers a wide range of products. If you know how to bargain, you will fit right in. This is also where you will find Liwan Plaza, located at 9 Dexing Lu, a place that’s famous for its crystal products. This entire area is a beautiful snapshot of traditional Cantonese architecture.

Malls and shopping centers

Guangzhou is the home of a number of huge shopping malls and plazas. The following are among the most popular:

1. Teem Mall
   Located at 208 Tianhe Lu above the metro station, this is the most popular mall in the city center. Whether you’re looking for clothes, appliances, household items, toys and the like, you’re likely to find it in Teem Mall. At any time of the day, the place is filled with scores of people moving to and fro and on a seemingly never-ending shopping spree. There’s nothing like the endless array of fabulous items up for sale to put one in the mood to shop.
2. Zhengjia Plaza
   Located a short distance away from the Teem Mall, Zhengjia Plaza on 228 Tianhe Lu was built precisely to challenge the popularity of its older neighbor. It has established its niche as the favorite shopping destination of foreigners. The plaza houses a number of department stores and many world-famous fashion shops. It is exquisitely decorated by rows of beautiful fountains and elegant designs. According to some estimates, close to half a million shoppers a day can be found here during festivals and holidays. Tourists will feel right at home, especially with fastfood chains like Pizza Hut and McDonalds as well as Dairy Queen and Starbucks prominently on display.
3. China Plaza
   This is another huge shopping mall located atop a metro station, located at 33 Zhongshan 3 Lu. It houses a wide array of popular department stores, clothing shops, electronic stores and restaurants.
4. Zhong Tian Shopping Plaza
   Located at Zhongxin Square, this plaza offers more than just shopping and dining. There are also services such as banking, grooming, dry cleaning and the like.

Other notable shopping malls and plazas in the city are the Zi You Ying Outdoor Travel Goods, located at 229 Jiangnan Dadao Zhong, Xin An Plaza Suite 180; the famous Wang Fu Jing department store, located at 40 Long Lin Xia Lu; and the Friendship Store, located at 369 Huanshi Dong Lu and a special favorite of foreigners.

Street markets

Meanwhile, if shopping in plush and upscale malls isn’t your cup of tea, Guangzhou also has a host of street markets where searching for fabulous bargains has become a local pastime.

Most of these street markets are located in back alleys which cars and scooters cannot enter. However, walking is the ideal way to shop here anyway, since that will give you the best possible chance to discover those hidden bargains.

One of the city’s most popular street markets is the Haiyin Shopping District, located just northwest of Haiyin Bridge. It offers some of the best prices for clothes, fabrics, appliances, electronics, camera accessories, sporting goods and the like.

Now, if it’s the raw ingredients for Cantonese food you’re looking for, everyone knows that the best place to just about any type of food is the Qingping Market. Located at Qingping Lu on Shamian Island, this market is famous all around the world for its wild animal trades.

One of the best things about the city’s street markets is that particular goods are usually concentrated at a specific area. For instance, there’s Jade Street, located at Changshou Lu and Wenchang Lu; Xiguan Antique Street, located near Liwan Park; Ivory and Sea products, located at Daxin Lu beside Beijing Lu; Flowers, Aquatic and Lightings Street, located at Danan Lu; and Flower Street, located  at Baohua Lu.

There’s also Toy Street, located at Yide Lu; Bridal Street, located at Jiangnan Bei Lu; Cultural Street, located at Wende Lu; and Household Merchandise Street (for everyday goods), located at Gaodi Jie.