First post, awesome and very helpful forum. Coming to Taibei for 2 weeks, will work for one and be a tourist for another.
The “real jade” thread on this forum mentions Government-sponsored shops and says they’re on Zhongshan Rd… having had a negative experience with street sellers and a positive experience with Government shops in New Delhi a few years back, I’d much prefer to pony up a little extra money and get fairly good craftsmanship and certified quality material.
Can anyone help with a more exact address/landmarks to look for? Much appreciated,
The shop you’re looking for is in Taipei at the northeast corner of Zhongshan South Road and Xuzhou Road (a little south of Zhongxiao East Road and just to the north of National Taiwan University Hospital’s big main building – not the old Japanese one). The closest MRT stop is the one for NTU Hospital (one stop south of Taipei Main Station). Hours: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The shop you’re looking for is in Taipei at the northeast corner of Zhongshan South Road and Xuzhou Road. The closest MRT stop is the one for National Taiwan University Hospital (one stop south of Taipei Main Station). Hours: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.[/quote]
Thank you very much!
Does the store have a name, or a distinguishing sign of some sort?
It’s called the Chinese Handicraft Mart – or something like that. The entrance isn’t on the main road (Zhongshan) but instead on Xuzhou. If anything distinguishes the building, I suppose it could be its relative lack of windows.
Basically, if you’re on Zhongshan (one of the biggest roads in Taipei) and you see the old church you’re too far north. And if you’re already in front of the massive gold-colored hospital you’re too far south.
NTU Hospital MRT exit 2, follow signs to Zhongshan Rd., turn left, cross street, pass big new hospital, it’s one of the first buildings on the left. It’s ugly as sin with a fairly big sign. There are several floors…basement is cheap bulk gifts (changepurses, fans, lanterns, Chinese fake silk lipstick cases, chopsticks), first floor is jewelry and ceramics (jewelry is mostly coral and jade, which is all guaranteed nephrite or jadeite - I avoid the coral because so much of it is not ethically harvested that it’s impossible to know the source) and a few souvenir-y things, second floor is alcohol, teacups/pots, mugs and some other stuff, third floor is scrolls, scarves and clothes.