China?

[SlyBetty]

If you don't have Chinese speaking friend on hand, you can always bring a ruler and a calculator with you. One thing I learned about Beijingers is that they want to make that sale. They won't let a little thing like language get in the way. Be brave, my crafty friends!

[pattisezhang]

Why there is so few people? 

[saralynne]

Hello!
I am going to be visiting Shanghai soon, and wondered if anyone has tips on where to buy craft supplies- specifically fabrics and yarn super cheap!

[schnerby]

Hi there.

I havent been to Shanghai since 2001, so I can't be really specific. Thet great thing about Chinese merchants is they gather together by what they sell, so if you ask around you will be able to find the fabric district. Ask wherever you're staying and often someone can call someone they know who knows someone who knows. Knitting is big with Chinese women so finding knitting stuff shouldn't be a problem.

[c*lientje]

Hello, I'm about to move to China in three weeks time - exciting! I'm going to be spending the first month in Beijing to do a teaching English course, and towards the end of August I will be moving to a yet unknown city anywhere in China where I'll be teaching in English at a local school for one semester. Afterwards, I'll have two weeks to travel from Beijing back to Hong Kong before I'll fly back home. I'm already looking forward to spending my free weekends browsing through local shops to pick up supplies so I can do a bit of crafting during my internship

[femiknit]

I'm moving to Shanghai in August and I'm a knitting fool so I'll fill you in on where to find yarn once I get there.  I'm excited to hear that the Chinese like to knit.  I don't want to be a lonely knitter while I'm there!

[c*lientje]

Am currently living in Foshan, but I haven't been able to find anything more crafty than origami paper yet. (Having said that, those little origami stars are addictive...!) So I'll keep looking around for some shops. Finding a bead and/or papercraft shop would be a dream come true...

[schnerby]

I've found plastic beads for making those odd little macrame-style sculptures around, but had trouble finding any others. Art supply/calligraphy places all have a range of fun papers and you could always watercolour/ink them for more colourful finishes