As Chinese New Year draws near, Shanghai's Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is buzzing with shoppers looking for unique global products at the CIIE Bazaar City Arena.

From Russian Matryoshka chocolates to Mongolian cashmere hats and Korean mud soap, both locals and international tourists are eagerly snapping up these popular items to enhance their celebrations and gift-giving.

At the Russian pavilion, specialty items like sea buckthorn honey, freeze-dried coffee, and canned beef stew are on display.

"The Matryoshka chocolates and pineapple-shaped cookies are selling out as quickly as they arrive. We're working hard to restock before the holiday," said one vendor.

Australian canola oil, Spanish ham gift boxes, and Argentinian mate tea are also in high demand.

"Many customers use these imported goods creatively. One shopper mentioned mixing canned beef with cilantro and sesame oil to make a quick, flavorful New Year's dish," explained Lin Qichen, the market's manager.

The cold weather has driven up sales of Mongolian cashmere products. Hats, scarves, and knee warmers are popular among both local buyers and international tourists seeking warmth.

"Asian tourists especially love our designs, which align with their aesthetic preferences," noted the manager of the Mongolian pavilion.

The market draws visitors from all over the world, including places like Thailand, South Korea and Nepal. Shankar Koirala, head of the Nepal pavilion, said that one tourist bought over 10 scarves as gifts.

"Even with limited luggage space, people are eager to bring home a piece of this unique shopping experience."

Lin Qichen advises shoppers to verify the authenticity of imported goods by checking for Chinese labels, matching translations, official registration numbers, and import clearance documents.

"By taking these precautions, consumers can more enjoy authentic global products with more confidence," he said.

Sources: Shanghai Observer, Greenland Group