Same with most other provincial capitals, Hohhot boasts a good variety of shopping specialties for travelers with tastes of every kind. This is probably the best place for a general feel for the specialties of the whole province. For souvenir hunters, interesting items include the traditional Mongolian knives, Mongolian carpets, camel hair products, brass hotpots, cashmere sweaters, silver bowls, jade bottles, as well as quality leather boots and clothes. Saddles and other horse gear are also available.
The city is also famous for the natural products that are harvested and used for general consumption purposes and in various traditional local medicines. There are many herbs that can be found here that are known for their curative qualities. All year round an edible black moss (flagelliform nostoc) is used by the Hohhotians in various dishes, good for both its taste and its healthy properties. In summer, you should sample the local melons, which are extraordinarily sweet.
The best place to buy these specialties is the local fairs and markets, where you not only may find the widest range of such items but also are likely to get the lowest possible prices - bargaining is worthwhile. Other areas worth thinking about are the hotels for souvenirs and handicrafts, the shops near to the Inner Mongolian Museum for antiques and the Dazhao and Xilituzhao temples for Buddhist artifacts. The following is a list of the best stores in the city.
1) Hohhot Carpet Factory
Lots of locally made carpets
Address: East Shiyangqiao Road
2) Treasure Stone
Carving Factory
The most famous rare stone carving exhibition place in the city.
Address: Airport Road
3) Camel Hair Products
It is famed for its durability and good cold resistance, and is mainly used to make quilts and carpets. Hohhot is a major distributing center for these goods, to the rest of China and beyond.
4) Minorities Department Store
Has a good selection of artifacts and souvenirs including Mongolian robes, hats, jewelry, inlaid knives and boots
Address: Hongshan West Road and the intersection with Zhongshan Road