The best and easiest place to shop, especially if you are short of time, is Lowu Commercial City, a sprawling shopping center with close to 1500 small shops selling everything from dinosaur eggs (yes! real dinosaur eggs!) to high fashion leather handbags. The mall is in a sleek blue glass building at the exit of the Chinese border crossing.

While it's relatively safe, the usual travelling rules apply: dress down, leave your jewelry at home, shop with a belt bag and bring a bag on wheels for your purchases.