As I write my December blog, I have just returned from many days of shopping, shopping and more shopping. I will return to Canada for a visit over Christmas so, of course, I had to stock up on gifts for friends and family at home. I always discover new places to shop; however, I have found over the years that I seem to rely on the old standard locations to collect the items that I need. One of my favorite places, for many years, has been the Panjiayuan Market. In this blog, I will only write about this market since it is one of my favorites and I will refer to other markets in later blogs. I always go to the Panjiayuan Market early on a Saturday or Sunday morning when most of the vendors are present. Weekdays, the market is open, but many of the vendors are only there on weekends. Some of my favorite purchases there are paper goods which I buy from the paper vendors who are all located in the row at the back of the market. On my latest trip, I purchased some used media and sponsor VIP Olympic passes and other unusual Olympic souvenirs from last summer's Olympics for the younger relatives at home. These gifts are much more unique than the items which were sold at the regular Olympic stores. Also, from the paper stalls, I usually purchase a few Mao posters and scenes of old Beijing. In a small art shop at the south end of the market, near the vendors who sell from the ground mats, I  bought two, small, original paintings of the two main Olympic venues: the Water Cube and the Olympic National Stadium and a few small framed black and white interesting photographs of "old Beijing" for my own collection.  In the row of indoor shops, which stretch from  just inside the front gate of the market, are a few stores which sell amber and I was able to purchase a few, lovely pieces for presents. In one of the amber stores, I was able to choose an amber piece of high quality and the vendor then attached the piece to loop and needed hardware to make a beautiful pendant for a special gift. In the following week, after searching the stalls at many other markets, I returned to this store and bought a few other pieces of amber since I found these market stores have a high quality and quantity of that stone and the prices are the best that I could find. In the numerous stalls of Panjiayuan Market, I always buy items in quantity. Items not immediately needed can always be stored away for later use since if I spend the time to bargain for only one item, it seems a waste of my time and, of course, the price will be much higher. I have found a good tactic is to go to the vendors where many Chinese people are dealing for goods and to listen to the prices which are being discussed and the final transactions as the money is exchanged. On my recent trip, I bought about a dozen jade pendants using this method and some small statues of Confucius. On a previous shopping trip, I bought a whole box of jade bangles which provided me with a year's supply of gifts, after watching a number of Chinese buyers purchasing the same article. The same bangles would be worth at least 10 times more if I had bought them individually or at another market and I was quite sure of the quality due to the other purchasers. I find if I see many Chinese buyers who are bargaining for goods at a jade stall, I can assume that the jade is of high quality and the prices reasonable. I usually buy 10 or 12 of the same object by listening to other transactions followed by hard bargaining. In this manner, I can get wonderful gifts or treasures for myself which are of high quality and at a very good price. I usually leave myself a half day when going to this market. This market is also is a good place to bargain for a dozen or so of the "child-style" Mao watches to take home for presents.  The other goods at this market are very diverse such as: jewelry of all kinds, antique furniture, antique porcelain objects, old watches, ethnic goods, etc. (continued on next page)