Originally Posted by
phillipas
You'll certainly be able to get the battery somewhere in China. Quite where is a whole different question though! 
I'm thinking that when you say you've got a Canon XSi you're not quite giving us the full details of the camera.... maybe an 'EOS 450/Rebel XSi' or something?
All up I wouldn't be too worried. China is a pretty impressive place when it comes to availability of the most unlikely things.
You might not end up with a genuine Canon battery - but pretty much any decent camera store (and in Beijing there are lots) will be able to sort you out.
If you do get a genuine battery through an official outlet though - don't expect it to be cheaper than in the US - that's just not how China really works. Equally I wouldn't expect you to end up paying anything close to the RMB480 that site quotes. Bargain as best you can.
I think you're dead on with the "you can get it, but the question is where" part. I don't know what the local's expertise is, but I'm thinking that one of them might know what markets/shopping areas are best for this type of thing.
Yes, it is the EOS 450D/rebel xsi/kiss x2/whatever else it is called regionally.
And no, I'm not looking for the genuine battery from Canon--I am looking to get a 3rd party battery. I have them already for my EOS 350/XT and spent 1/2 the price of a real one to get 5 cheap ones, and they perform just as well for my use.