What to look for in Xi’an
Xi’an is a good setting for gifts inspired by writing, archaeology and Chinese craft. Separate contemporary merchandise from objects claimed to be old, and choose a price you are comfortable paying for the item itself.
- Calligraphy paper and brushes for practical use.
- Clearly labelled museum-inspired stationery and small gifts.
- Contemporary Chinese homeware, if size and price fit your trip.
Buy carefully: Terracotta-style figures and old-looking objects may be modern reproductions. Do not pay for an antiquity claim you cannot independently establish; ask for the material and production method in writing.
Give your shopping day a shape.
These are editorial route suggestions. Allow time to browse, compare and take a break; check travel times in your map app.
Half a day: gifts around the Grand Tang Mall
Locate the museum’s Qujiang gift shop first, then browse the surrounding pedestrian district. This gives the outing one area and avoids confusing the mall-side shop with the main museum.
Old-city writing materials, or modern home design
Choose Shuyuanmen for paper and brushes. Choose SHANG XIA at SKP for a different, design-led outing; if combining them, plan a separate journey and sufficient browsing time.
Places worth putting on your map
01 / Calligraphy shopping district
Shuyuanmen cultural street
Browse this cultural street with a specific use in mind: a brush to practise with, paper to write on or a clearly identified contemporary souvenir. Individual shops are separate sellers.
Look for: Brushes, paper and other writing materials.
西安市碑林区南门内书院门街
Shuyuanmen Street, inside the South Gate, Beilin District
Shopping district location; individual shops have their own addresses.
Before you pay: For a commissioned inscription, agree on the characters, finished size, total price and collection time first. Keep paper flat and ink safely sealed.
Shaanxi Culture and Tourism: calligraphy routes ↗ · Xi’an government: Shuyuanmen district ↗
02 / Museum-inspired gifts
Shaanxi History Museum gift shop — Qujiang Intime
The museum documents this retail location within the Grand Tang Mall area, separately from its main museum building. Use the full mall, building and unit description when checking the branch.
Look for: Bookmarks, stationery and small collection-inspired souvenirs.
西安市大唐不夜城银泰百货曲江店B馆1-14-1
Unit 1-14-1, Building B, Qujiang Intime, Grand Tang Mall
Before you pay: Confirm the branch is still operating before a special trip: the linked opening notice is from 2024. Ask which objects relate to the museum collection and inspect the actual materials.
Shaanxi History Museum: Qujiang shop location ↗ · Shaanxi History Museum: product collection ↗
03 / Contemporary Chinese craft
SHANG XIA — Xi’an SKP home gallery
Use this brand-listed location for a closer look at contemporary Chinese home design. It is a specialist design stop, so browse with a clear budget and luggage limit rather than expecting market prices.
Look for: Contemporary homeware and teaware, subject to local selection.
西安市碑林区长安北路261号SKP SELECT HOME
SELECT HOME, Xi’an SKP, 261 Chang’an North Road, Beilin District
Before you pay: Ask which small pieces are available to take away, what material and care each requires, and whether the packaging can safely travel.
04 / Browsing district
Grand Tang Mall pedestrian district
Despite its English name, this is a pedestrian district rather than a single indoor mall. Browse it alongside the Qujiang museum gift shop, with time left to enjoy the surroundings.
Look for: Small contemporary souvenirs you can inspect in person.
西安市大雁塔南侧大唐不夜城步行街
Grand Tang Mall pedestrian street, south of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Shopping district location; individual shops have their own addresses.
Before you pay: Assess each seller and object separately. Compare materials and final prices; the setting does not establish museum authorization or handmade production.
The details that make the day easier
- The main Shaanxi History Museum and its Qujiang Intime retail branch are different destinations; use the branch-specific address.
- For a name or phrase on a commissioned object, confirm the spelling and meaning before work begins.
- Allow room for rigid packaging around fragile objects. A small paper gift is often easier to transport than a stone seal or large ceramic replica.
Use the Chinese address in your preferred map app or show it to a driver. Google Maps access in mainland China can vary. Recheck opening hours and any museum entry arrangements directly; older official listings are useful leads, not a promise a branch has stayed unchanged.
Ask for an itemized receipt and check return conditions before paying. Departure tax refunds apply only at participating stores and to eligible purchases: see the refund guide. When returning home, check your destination’s customs rules.