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Instead of pop heroes like the Beatles, the Chinese teen-agers turn to the stars of the revolutionized Peking opera —although there are also portraits of Marx, Lenin, Engels and Stalin for the less artistic. The theme music from The Red Women's Detachment, the ballet that Nixon saw with Chou, blares over a loudspeaker as young people, many with white surgical masks over their faces to prevent the spread of germs, walk leisurely and politely through the store. The sales help is remarkably courteous; the Chinese never push and shove.
Like Lifebuoy. The soap counter offers at least ten different brands, including Shanghai "Zaozao" soap in a red box that looks suspiciously like the old American brand, Lifebuoy.
Chinese cameras look exactly like the Rolleiflex ($85) from the Shanghai camera factory or the Japanese Canonet ($54.50). The Pearl River Reflex camera, built like a Rolleicord, costs 110 yuan, or about $50—almost two months' pay for the average worker whose wages per month are figured at 56 yuan ($25.45).
The Chinese emphasis on agriculture and light industry is clearly evident in the field of consumer goods. There is plenty of variety and color although the styling is basic, without frills. There are children's dresses, corduroys, a range of tunics and boiler suits. There are red and green and pink hoods and capes for youngsters.
In the Chinese bazaar, the housewares section is vastly superior to those in Russian stores but way below those in America. Like coffeepots in the U.S., the Chinese have many styles of hot-water thermos bottles. They keep water warm all day, thus saving on fuel. Unlike Russian stores the Chinese have a full range of knives, forks, spoons and even butter knives. They range in price from 12¢ to 21¢.
Shoes made of black corduroy are cheap and sell for $1.20 or $1.98. There are also more expensive shoes made of leather. The liquor counter features a wide variety of wines, the most expensive $2.90 a bottle.
Penny Pills. The most popular section after the posters, cards and comic books—filled with picture stories of revolutionary heroes—is the radio counter. There young men, boys and girls line up to inspect radios that range from a simple medium-wave set for $8.65 called "The East Is Red," to a three-band, eight-transistor Panda brand set for $72.50.
The drug counter offers a variety of acupuncture needles, from $1.95 to $5.80 for a 12½-in. model. One bestseller is the Chinese equivalent of aspirin, called Analgin. There are no birth control pills, but the pharmacist offers a book of ten spermicide tablets. The most popular contraceptive is prophylactics, which come in three sizes. They cost one Chinese cent each. The Chinese also have tranquilizers, which are called by the anglicized popular name, "Milton." The label calls them a pain remover; the pills cost a penny each and can be obtained without prescription. They are not a big seller, the druggist says. Also available is a variety of stomach preparations and digestives.