If you're a regular reader of this blog, you're well aware that life in China differs slightly from ours. This weekend, we tested a Chinese IKEA store for you, giving us the opportunity once again to draw a comparative picture with our good old country.      

We're back in Canton, this time for an indefinite stay! Our apartment search was once again made easier by our real estate agent, Nathalie, who went to great lengths to find us accommodation in the same building as last year. Rents seem to have experienced an increase over recent months, but of course remain well below what you can find in France. Still, we now need to furnish the apartment to make it more welcoming, something we'd only half done last year knowing we'd stay for just a few months... And for that, here as elsewhere, IKEA remains a benchmark!  

IKEA in China: a lifestyle destination

  So we headed this Sunday to the Tianhe District where the IKEA Guangzhou store is located. It's been around for quite some time and benefits from a prime location, just steps away from the famous Citic Plaza.

Upon arrival, we notice the hustle and bustle surrounding the Swedish brand, to the point where we wonder if we're really in front of an IKEA store or the entrance to Disneyland Paris... It takes us a good fifteen minutes just to get inside and take the escalators to reach the first level.

From the very first steps, differences with Europe become apparent. IKEA seems to be a genuine lifestyle destination, where people come not just to buy products but also to relax. Here and there, people chat, lounging on the display furniture, others peacefully read without worrying about other customers...

  In short, an atmosphere reminiscent of fast-food chains like McDonald's or KFC, where Chinese customers occupy tables to chat and sometimes even nap, without consuming anything or being bothered in the slightest by staff.

Here, people change babies on IKEA beds. Yes, really.

It's also worth noting that while IKEA represents affordable furniture in Europe for furnishing your home on a budget, here the Swedish retailer caters more to the emerging middle class, and many don't hesitate to visit for inspiration and original décor ideas, without spending a single yuan.  

Pricing strategy

  Let's talk about prices then. While they seem out of reach for the less fortunate, they nonetheless appear lower than in France, which we're quite pleased about... For example, a small coffee table that sells for €14 in France can be found here for 39 yuan, or €5! The process is the same as in France. Armed with a wooden pencil and a sheet of paper, we need to note down the product codes that interest us, before heading to the warehouse where we pick up the actual items.

  The difference, of course, lies in the form itself, written in Chinese, as well as in the product codes. Despite our best efforts, we decide to photograph the tags that interest us... simple preventive measure!

Furniture, décor, kitchen utensils, rugs, curtains, trinkets... we truly scoured the floors to make sure we didn't miss any bargains. It's already time to head to the warehouse to pick everything up, then to the checkout.

That's when we realize we didn't hold back on purchases: 3 small coffee tables, one large table, curtains, a bedside lamp, a rug, cushions, a duvet and various kitchen and décor accessories... Total: 1,000 yuan, or about €120. The bill would have been considerably higher if we'd bought this in France...

Before leaving, an obligatory stop at the hot dog counter, a fixture of every IKEA store. A chance to break away from local cuisine for a bit...

Address reminder for interested parties: 156 Linhe Zonglu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou (广州市天河区林和中路156号) Metro: Guangzhou East Railway Station Bon appétit!