Shopping tips

Remember to go to these markets ready with your best bargaining techniques - Sales assistants range from bored to pushy, but they all want to profit as much as possible. Don’t be fooled by their flattery – they may tell you you look ‘like a movie star’ (it always happens to me in China when I wear lipstick) but it’s only to get you to spend.

The shops open around 10:00am. The earlier you go, the better off you'll be, as these markets pack up with locals and foreigners very quickly all week long. Make sure you keep a close eye on your wallets or handbags too, stories of pickpockets are rampant.

A lot of the units in each place are selling the same thing, so I would advise a look around the whole market before buying anything to make sure you secure the best deal.  Some of the units have gone for a more sparse, boutique-style look in their set up, an attempt to recreate the experience of buying a real designer item. These smarter looking places are much less busy than those with chaotic shop floors, handwritten signs, and crucially, lower prices.