Lego in China - Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an

blade_guy

Best places to buy Lego in these cities? Anything unusual to look out for not available in the UK? On holiday here for a few weeks.

khmellymel

Honestly, I never found a really good place to buy Lego in China.  It tends to be expensive there.  I lived in in Shanghai but travelled to Beijing and Xi'an as well.  I did find while I was there (2012/2013) the Year of the Snake set (#10250) available for 300-400 yuan pretty readily at big department stores and Toys R Us (399 yuan to start and then went on special for 299).  Not sure if they would still be available, but maybe if you can find a shop there would still be some old stock hanging about?  Hopefully someone can point you in the right direction.  

Walmart had a number of sets as well, nothing big but even Walmart is not that competitively priced (Walmart actually tends to be higher in pricing than it is a low cost kind of place in China).

In 2015, there was another small "Year of" set, #40148, Year of the Sheep.  It was found in HK - I don't know if it was available in China, but might be something to look out for.

Friends seems to be fairly popular there, I even found small Friends sets in convenience shops.

There are of course knock offs in the markets, but YMMV in regard to quality.  I personally stayed away, but it's really hard to get away from knock offs in the markets!

blade_guy

Thanks! I got the Year of snake set for 280 Yuan ( about £28) so pleased with that. Hoped to pick up Ultra Agents but the first wave never even made it here, never mind the second! Went to Tianle Toy Market and was astounded at just how good some of the fakes are...

Jern92

Year of the Snake is still available? Wonder if it's available in Taiwan as well

khmellymel

Yay!  Maybe there's hope for me to pick up another at some point... I smushed the box coming back in my luggage :(

blade_guy

Aside from that I discovered that REAL Lego is actually really expensive, more so in China than in Europe. I treat myself to a clone version of the Horizon Express train for about £15, which not only has lights and a rechargeable power pack but also makes sound effects :-)

My sets of World Cup mini figures, Doraemon Minifigures, Monster High Minifigures and 3 pirate ships completed my purchases - oh, and a couple of some Enlighten sets.