Jade Buddha and the Muslim Quarter

Okay so yesterday was such a fun day! Me, Dani and Adam took a cab near the Drum and Bell Towers and met up with a teacher that works with Adam. We got an Oreo McFlurry and walked around and then went to this Golden Dumpling place for lunch. It ended up being around 800 Yuan and the teacher paid for us! We tried to give her money for it but she wouldn't take it. People here can be so nice.

Next, we did a little shopping and I ended up buying an actual Jade necklace!! There are so many fake Jade necklaces and things out there so I went into a legite store and bought a small Buddha Jade necklace with proof that it was real Jade. It was a little pricey but so worth it! The reason I think Jade is so cool is because people believe Jade blesses and heals all who touch it and absorbs the negative Chi in your body. Jade can also apparently turn greener over the years if the stone "likes" you. It's also my birthstone in the Chinese Zodiac and really beautiful.

Next, we went to the Muslim Quarter to do some shopping. I have been to the Muslim Quarter a couple times already but yesterday I was in such a shopping mode and bought so many cool stuff! I'm getting better at bargaining down prices and went on a little shopping spree. There are SEVERAL little shops all in the same street and they have so many things, from silk to small Terra-Cotta Warriors, to fans to pretty much anything you want! This is how bargaining works: When you're interested in something, ask the person how much it is. They may say "60 Yuan". NEVER buy something for the initial asking price. I usually bargain back at around 20 Yuan to give me some wiggle room. They may say 50 Yuan, Ill stick with 20. They may say 45 and how 45 is such a good price. I'll go up to 25 Yuan and they'll stick with 45. I'll start walking away, and they'll bring it down to 40. I'll say 30 Yuan or else i'm leaving and they'll sell it to me for 30 Yuan. I try and bargain down the final price to atleast half the initial asking price, but the cool thing is that even if you don't bargain down the price much, it's still REALLY cheap. The conversion rate from U.S. Dollars to RMB/Yuan is $1=6.3Yuan. This is where I get most of my souveneirs for family and friends, I absolutely love it!