Bargaining, China-style

• In big government-regulated department stores or high-end shopping malls, as well as in hotels, where prices are inevitably inflated, the official-looking price tags are non-negotiable. You may even see a "No Bargaining" sign in some small shops.

• In small shops and market stalls where items are not marked with official price tags, don't think twice about asking for a better price – it's expected.

Here's how:

• Ask for a special price – half. The merchant will frown and bemoan the impossibility of meeting your price, and then start the process of negotiation.

• Always be friendly and firm when you negotiate – and smile.

• Flatter the merchant while you stay your ground.

• Play hard to get: Pretend you can't make a decision, or even turn and walk away as if you've reached your limit and simply don't want to buy the item at the merchant's price.

• Since foreigners are quoted higher prices, bring a Chinese friend with you if you have one and let them do the bargaining – ideally without you around.

• Knowing a few words in Chinese can be useful on your shopping trip, and will instantly endear you to most vendors.

Check out the LanguageEase "Shopping" lesson

for useful sentences in Mandarin, like "I'm just looking" and "Do you have a bigger/smaller size?"