Beijing Shopping

The metropolis of Beijing has several shopping districts offering a mind-boggling variety of goods. The traditional shopping districts have been always Huangfujin Street, Qianmen Street, Dongdan and Xidan Commercial Street but now it seems that Jianguomen Wai Street and Chaowai Street have risen to the top for the latest and most luxurious items. Shopping at outdoor markets remains not-to-be-missed experience for foreign travelers. Check out the Panjiayuan Collection Street, Xiushui Street and Liulichang Street for local specialties such as cloisonné, ivory carvings, jade pieces, lacquer carvings, antiques and fresh water pearls.

Liulichang Culture Street

The Liulichang Culture Street, a few minutes' walk from the south of Hepingmen Subway Station is a great place for shopping in terms of both variety and atmosphere. The street is thought to have originated from Qing Dynasty, which is evidenced by the ancient wooden architecture lining either side of the street. Products sold here include jewelry, antiques, and ancient calligraphy and paintings. Enjoy the pleasure of bargaining when you decide to buy something.

Location: Outside Hepingmen

Opening time: From 9 am to 6 pm

Panjiayuan Collection Market

Panjiayuan Market is an open-air holiday market selling old arts & crafts. Over 4000 stalls offer abundant old merchandise including old books published during the Culture Revolution, Jade bracelet, ancient furniture, hand-made porcelains, calligraphy, paintings and Cultural Revolution propaganda posters. All the thing you can imagine and many thing you can't imagine are available. But most of things on the shelves are fake.

Every weekend, millions of visitors come here looking for treasure. Serious collectors are the early birds. Although it is very rare, people have been reported to find priceless ancient treasure. Perhaps that's the real reason why so many people gather here to try their lucks each weekend. You may not be lucky enough to find the Ming Dynasty vase or jade pieces from the Qing Dynasty but wandering around watching the locals doing their business is a fascinating experience.   

Note:The market can be chaos and usually very crowded. Please keep an eye on your properties in the chaotic crowd. Make a few rounds and compare price before buying anything. Bargaining is expected.

Location:  18, Huawei Li, Panjiayuan Road, Chaoyang District

Xiushui Street

Xiushui Street( Silk Market) is replete with some of the finest silk products, as well as an amazing arrays of name-brand clothes, bags such as Reebok, Adidas, Gucci. But very few of these top labels are the real thing despite their uncanny resemblance. This is probably the reason that serious shoppers usually avoid this market but there is still a lot of interesting things to see and to do. The fun of the place may not come in searching for the perfect bag or best shirt, it comes in the haggling. It may yield a feeling of accomplishment when you purchase an item at maybe 30 percent of the original price. No price is fixed is the golden rule there. The more you haggle, the better price you may get. Xiushui Street is the one of the few places in Beijing where foreign can purchase clothes and shoes in large sizes.

Location: in Xiushuidong Jie (East Xiushui Street) off Jianguomenwai Street, near the US Embassy.

Opening Time: 9 am to 9 pm

Huairou Cloisonné Factory

The Huairou cloisonné factory close to the Mutianyu Great Wall is the best place to purchase cloisonné. You will find other places that sells similar looking products even at a much cheaper price, however, please keep in mind that there is a huge industry in China in the sale of fake products. This is illegal but it does not alter the fact that this is a common practice. A little more outlay often avoids the disappointment of being fooled by fake products.

You can also watch the workers at all stages of the manufacturing process to see how these beautiful objects are produced.

Yaxiu clothes market

This five store market offers all the clothing your may need in various styles and colors. Ruifuxiang, a famous shop selling Qibao is located on the third floor. They have a lots of traditional silk products on sale and you have your Qibao tailor-made to your special requirements.

Location: at the end of the main bar street in Sanlidun.

Book Store

Beijing Xinhua Book Store, Huangfujin Branch: No 218, Wangfujing Da Jie (south end), Dongcheng District.

Beijing Book Building: No. 17, Chang'an Street, Xicheng District.