Ralph and I did our first shopping trip today. We took a taxi to the "Dirt Market" which is a huge flea market with thousands of of little stalls selling everything from jade, lanterns, art, jewelry, and communist-era posters to chopsticks, antiques, books, and preserved animals. You must be prepared to barter to get the best deals, as you can typically get everything for half of what they first ask. Once I started getting deals, I could not stop buying stuff. I am not sure how I am going to get it all home. 
