Suzy Gershman's Born to Shop: Hong Kong, Shanghai & Beijing, Second Edition [Paperback]

Suzy Gershman (Author), Aaron Gershman (Editor), Jenny McCormick (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2003

"Gershman?s may be the best guide for novice and pro shoppers alike." —The Washington Post

For nearly twenty years, Suzy Gershman has been leading savvy shoppers to the world?s best finds. Now Born to Shop Hong Kong, Shanghai & Beijing is easier to use and packed with more up-to-date listings than ever before.

Inside you?ll find:

• What?s hot in Hong Kong, from hip new fashions and designer labels to porcelain, jade, and colorful markets
• The best of Shanghai, from the Old City to the exciting new Pudong area
• Terrific buys in Beijing, from the Silk Market to the Pearl Market to the famous antiques street of Liulichang
• A completely new section on Hanoi and its unique treasures such as contemporary art, sophisticated lacquer, and funky ethnic fashions

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Suzy Gershman has been named "the world's greatest shopper" by amazon.com and "Super Shopper Suzy" by Oprah Winfrey. She has been a contributing editor—on the subject of international retail, of course—for Travel & Leisure and National Geographic Traveler. Gershman also writes for www.BonjourParis.com, Where Paris, Porthole, and assorted other travel destination sources. Suzy currently lives part-time in Paris, part-time in Provence, and part-time at the airport.

Aaron Gershman joins the Born to Shop team as Contributing Editor after his graduation from Emerson College. In real life, he is a singer-songwriter who lives in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. He writes on guys' fashions, boy toys, and electronics.

Jenny McCormick is a recent graduate of Boston University, currently working on a master's degree in psychology, and helping out part-time as Suzy's editorial assistant. She writes on fashion and trends for young women.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Frommers; 3 edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764525603
• ISBN-13: 978-0764525605
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,873,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #75 in Books > Travel > Asia > China > Shanghai
  • #93 in Books > Travel > Asia > China > Beijing

More About the Author

Suzy Gershman is an author, journalist and shopping goddess who for the last 27 years has pioneered the Born to Shop series of travel guidebooks. Having just sold her house in Provence, she has returned to California and partnered with Amazon and Talking Frog Media to revise existing and write new Born to Shop titles.

The first new book, written with Sarah Lahey, is Born to Shop California Wine Country which will be available through amazon.com after September 1, 2010. Gershman and Lahey will follow up with books on Provence and the surrounding area (including Geneva and Barcelona), Asia (Tokyo, Kyoto, Bangkok, Manila, etc) and then the next edition of Born to Shop London, which will be ready pre-Olympics.

Gershman is currently living in Paso Robles, California, a small food and wine town she discovered while doing the research for Born to Shop California Wine Country. She is writing Merci, Madame -- something of a sequel to her memoire C'est la Vie, but a story about Gershman's house in Provence, the lifestyle in Provence and the Frenchman who asked for her hand in marriage.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not ideal for true shoppers, January 9, 2005

By 

W. Eastlake "weastlake" (Hong Kong, China) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Suzy Gershman's Born to Shop: Hong Kong, Shanghai & Beijing, Second Edition (Paperback)

A bunch of my girlfriends and I live in Hong Kong and are serious shoppers in Asia. We found this book to be outdated, commercialized and definitely not clued in to where the best shopping lies, particularly for Shanghai and Beijing. There are so many wonderful boutiques which were not included. You are likely to get the same information from the local hotel concierge if not more.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars out of date and incorrect, October 19, 2004

By 

high spender tourist (tulsa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suzy Gershman's Born to Shop: Hong Kong, Shanghai & Beijing, Second Edition (Paperback)

Advice given regards places and items was either out of date or just plain wrong. China, especially in cities likeBeijing and Shanghai, is changing so fast I suggest using only guides with current year copyright dates.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but could be better, January 3, 2004

By 

Chris (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Suzy Gershman's Born to Shop: Hong Kong, Shanghai & Beijing, Second Edition (Paperback)

Good solid tips on where to go for good shopping for the 1st time visitor, but it could be organized better as it tends to jump around and return to the same topic. For example, in Shanghai, the book mentions the Dong Tai Market under Bargaining, Old City, Antiques and Antiques Market when it could have been in one section.
Also, for Hong Kong, the book gives a plug for the Hong Tourism Agency (p.44). However, beware their "QTS" seal of approval for trustworthy stores. I got ripped off at one of their approved stores (Louvre Jewelry) and they said they could not help address the problem.