Shenzhen Prices

« Taxes. In China, the income tax is 11%, but if foreigners collect receipts (fapiao), it can be reduced to 7%. This is supposed to encourage foreigners to spend money in China. Not everyone provides such receipts, and you have to collect them even from taxis (the receipt is usually in the upper right corner). There’s a black market for fake receipts, and you can hear people shouting on the streets - fapiao! Fapiao! »

« The Chinese really created a cool mix! They infused the trendy boots with the comfort of sneakers. Quality leather, soft insoles, a modern design, and amazing laces were my reasons! In the U.S., something like this would cost around $200, but here it's just $60. »

« Rented an apartment. The prices for rent, just like for buying, are quite steep. There are no apartments for less than $600, and decent ones are around $1000, with rental prices increasing by 10-20% each year. »

« Yesterday, I visited a mall filled with clothing, shoes, and accessories. I wanted to check out some of the Chinese “boutiques” and feel the quality of the knock-offs. For example, a backpack was 280 yuan (~$39), and a black leather bag was 500 yuan (~$70). Of course, bargaining is a must, which usually involves a long session of tapping numbers into a calculator 😄. I had the audacity to offer just $11 for the glasses that were originally priced at 280 yuan! »