Hand-carved stone name seal + calligraphy starter set (brush, ink, paper)

The most personal souvenir in China: your own name, carved in stone in an art form unchanged for two millennia, done while you drink tea.

Price: 260 CNY (Soapstone seal with your name translated and hand-carved (¥100-200 incl. stone) plus brush/ink stick/red paste set (¥80-150))

Where to buy: Liulichang Culture Street (Beijing), Tianzifang (Shanghai), or any calligraphy shop near a major temple — carving takes 30-60 minutes

Price checked 2026-07-03

• Have the shop transliterate your name into characters and show you the meaning before they carve — a good carver will discuss style (zhuan script vs kai)
• Stone matters little at this level; you're paying for the carving. Chicken-blood stone and Shoushan 'bargains' at tourist prices are usually dyed
• Get the impression stamped on a card as your reference — makes a great framed pairing back home