Shenzhen does not have a shortage of malls. There are dozens dotted around the city, with more under construction. They are modern and flashy, filled with name brands and Western luxury goods. Nike, H&M, Apple, Prada. you name it, we’ve got it.*
Luohu Commercial City is not that type of mall. You may find Prada bags and the latest Adidas gear, but the versions you’ll find here are the product of China’s massive faux market.
Luohu Commercial City is a five story mall situated on the Luohu border with Hong Kong, across from the Luohu Rail Station. Its position next to the border makes it a shopping destination for many Hong Kong locals who want to hop over for a quick shopping trip. (It is known as Lo Wu Market by Hong Kong-ers).
If China is known for its robust market of knock-off items, Luohu is a mecca of sorts. With many factories producing name brands in the region around Shenzhen, it is here where cast-offs and illegally copied items come for resale. Sneakerheads and handbag enthusiasts look no further. If you have a dream of one day owning the latest Jordans or Birkin bag, this, my friends, is the place to be.**
The crazy successful book, Crazy Rich Asians, even has a shout out to Shenzhen’s quality black market scene (though that whole story line was cut from the movie version..boo!).
Luohu Commercial City is a bargain shoppers’ paradise. A deal can be had, but only if you are willing to negotiate.
For first timers, the mall can be … a bit overwhelming. There is almost no natural light, and the corridors are tightly packed with vendors, lit overhead with rows of harsh florescent bulbs. There are no brand name stores, nor are there even names on most of the store fronts. It’s just closet-size shops hawking various goods.
Every free surface is covered in brightly colored adverts, surrounded on all sides by elevators and escalators ferrying mall-goers between the five floors. So why would one come out here, braving a maze of knock-off vendors? If you’re up for a haggle, you can score the most incredible, only-to-be-found-in-China deals.
Luohu Commercial City
Luohu Commercial City is easily accessible by metro (check out our guide to Shenzhen transportation for more info!). Line 1 terminates at Luohu Station, directly below the Luohu Border, Luohu Commercial City, and Luohu Rail Station. Take Exit A and follow the signs for the Hong Kong border. You will be deposited into a huge open plaza, with the heart of the Luohu area of Shenzhen in front of you.
Once inside, the buzz and frantic pace of the mall is apparent. Inevitably, before you can reach the first set of escalators, you will be approached by at least one friendly English speaker asking if you are in the market for luxury watches, the newest electronics, or perhaps a massage. They can be a bit aggressive, and will occasionally ride the escalator with you, but a few strongly worded “no need” (bù yào) should do the trick.
Each floor is a mishmash of electronics, clothing, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. The easiest way to shop here is to come prepared with exactly the items you wish to find. This can help navigate the inevitable conversations that will happen the moment you linger at a window display. Plus, knowing what you want allows for easy price comparison, and gives you a slight advantage in your bargaining.
Because there are no price tags in these shops, salespeople will always quote you an exorbitantly high price first. The quality of the goods ranges greatly, so never be afraid to walk away if the craftsmanship looks iffy. Sometimes the higher quality versions of an item are kept in a closet or well-placed hidden drawer or cabinet. Don’t be afraid to ask if they have better quality options.
For pricing, it is fine to counter with 20-25% of the original offer. If you look online ahead of your visit, you may be able to find a price range for what people have paid for that particular fake at the same mall recently. With a quick Google search about the price of children’s shoes, I paid 150RMB for sneakers after being told it was impossible to find for less than 600RMB. Fear of a lost sale is the greatest advantage a shopper has here.
The bottom four floors are a collection of the same types of stores, but the fifth floor is where things get really interesting.
Custom Clothing at Luohu Commercial City
While there are good knock-offs and inexpensive jewelry in the rest of the mall, the fifth floor is where Luohu Commercial City really shines. The entire floor is full of tailor shops with professionals willing to make custom clothing for often a 1/10th the price of bespoke clothing in the US or about 1/3 the price of custom clothing from Hong Kong.
Many of the suits that people pay a premium for in Hong Kong are in fact made by workers in Shenzhen.
My tailor of choice is Stephanie at Lark International Apparel (shop #5060). She and her associate Alex are popular among expats in Shenzhen because their English is good and word-of-mouth is king. The shop, like all the others on the floor, is the size of a walk-in closet. The “dressing room” is just a curtain hanging in a corner with barely enough space to try on a pair of pants.Stephanie and the other tailors on the 5th floor specialize in suits and dress clothing, but can make a range of apparel. Many customers just bring a photo of an outfit from a fashion magazine or a favorite item from home, from which duplicates can be made.Recently, I had three dress shirts and a suit made, my first custom clothing order of my life. The process was super quick, and extremely affordable. My measurements were taken (in the hallway because there’s not enough space in the shop) and they gave me a stack of fabric books where I could pick out any fabric I wanted, from basic to luxurious. I sat on a small wooden stool scanning the hundreds of options. When I asked for some direction or advise, Stephanie was happy to point me to popular choices.
My dress shirts cost about $21/each (150RMB), a price I haggled down from an initial offer closer to $30. I picked my material, Alex finished writing up my measurements, and a few days later, I returned to pick up my shirts. For only $175 (1200RMB) I had a bespoke suit made with a fabric of my choosing. Again, a few days later, I returned to my perfectly fitted suit.
Even at these low prices, I still probably overpaid by about 10%, but I was happy with the quality and all items fit perfectly, with no need for further alterations. For someone who can’t really buy a suit off the rack without major alteration expenses (#shortpeopleproblems), this was a revelation.
When we returned to pick-up my suit, Julie impulsively bought a cashmere wool jacket the shop happened to have on display. Stephanie, always the persistent salesperson, talked Julie into the spontaneous purchase. It was a copy of a MaxMara coat that retails for thousands, but Julie paid around $150. If you know exactly what you want and have the fabric (there is a large fabric store just a few doors down from Lark International) you can get an even better deal.
Luohu Commercial City is a fantastic resource for expats and locals alike. Of all the we’re-definitely-in-China experiences we’ve had, haggling over prices of knock-off luxury goods and having bespoke clothing made are definitely some of the most likely to be featured in the anecdotes we’ll tell for many years.
