Mum’s the Word: Gifts For Mother's Day

Sunday, May 13, aka Mother’s Day, is fast approaching. You may be several time zones away from Mom, but that doesn’t mean you should forget her day. If you act fast, you still have time to mail a card or gift home. To help you along, here are a few ideas of what to buy.

Usually nothing is easier than sending a simple card, but in Chinese stationery stores and supermarkets, you're more likely to find red envelopes than a Mother's Day card. We'd suggest looking for blank greeting cards at bookstores or even at the post office. However, if you’d like to mail a handcrafted note (for that thoughtful touch), check out Paper Pounder Press on Gongti Donglu. The old-fashioned printing shop offers various embossed cards, all on cotton paper.

If you’d like to send Mom a present, opt for something light to save on shipping costs. Belita Jewelry in Sanlitun has plenty of delicate designs, and as an added bonus, Mother’s Day purchases come with a box of chocolate truffles. Since the chocolates won’t ship well, you can enjoy them as a sweet reward for being such a dutiful child this year. For other gift ideas, Yashow and the Silk Market may seem like an easy way to get your shopping done quickly, but you can do better than that. Have a look at our directory of boutiques and specialty shops.

And if your mom – or mother-in-law – is here in town, stay tuned to this blog. We'll have a post soon about Mother's Day brunches and other ways to treat her in the city.

Photo: Paper Pounder Press