Imitation to innovation

A vendor at booth 4120, who refuses to give her name, says the shanzhai versions of French luxury brand Vertu are her most popular models. Real Vertus cost up to 150,000 yuan, and are adorned with precious metals, such as gold and platinum, and gemstones, such as rubies and diamonds. Hers go for 600 yuan.

She says she sells about 50 per day to a roughly equal number of foreigners and Chinese.

"People like that it looks like the world's most expensive phone," she says.

Weaver says Tier 1 companies are still trying to figure out how to deal with the flourishing of shanzhaiji.

Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Apple and Samsung decline to be interviewed.

While it might be a thorn in the sides of Tier 1 and top domestic handset makers, it seems unlikely shanzhaiji will disappear anytime soon, Meng says.

"And if I couldn't find these funky mobiles in the market, I'd be kind of disappointed," she says.

"I think the shanzhai spirit is sometimes a spirit of rebellion but also a spirit that the Chinese people are capable of creating anything."