Market shopping in Běijīng
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A
Hongqiao (Pearl) Market
Besides a cosmos of clutter (shoes, clothing, electronics and lots and lots of handbags), Hongqiao is home to more pearls than the South Sea. The range is huge – freshwater, seawater, white and black pearls – and prices vary incredibly depending on quality. The 3rd floor has the cheaper ones, mostly sourced from Zhèjiāng province, as well as standard jewellery. The better-quality, more pricy pearls can be found on the 4th and 5th floors, where there’s a roof terrace that offers a view of the Temple of Heaven. Prices are generally high, while the vendors, who often speak some English, are canny bargainers. If you have kids, don’t miss the Kids Toys Market in the …
reviewed
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B
Dongjiao Shichang
If you're after authentic local atmosphere, check out this ramshackle market. On weekends it's a sprawling sight of demanding crowds and messy stalls where everyone from old-fashioned cobblers to vendors selling pet fish set up. Several specialist buildings lurk at the back including Dongjiao Lushan Jiu Tea City, filled with stalls selling loose tea and tea sets.
reviewed
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C
Alien's Street Market
This market just northwest of Ritan Park is packed to the gills with a huge variety of clothing, as well as tons of accessories. You can find most things here. It's popular with visiting Russian traders, which means the clothes come in bigger sizes than usual and the vendors will greet you in Russian. Haggling is essential.
reviewed
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D
Silk Market
The six-storey Silk Market is one of the most popular in Beijing, thanks to its wide array of high-quality fakes of big-name brands. Always packed, it’s best for clothes, but you can find bags and electronics here too. The silk is on the 3rd floor and is one of the few genuine items sold here.
reviewed
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E
Pearl Market
The cosmos of clutter across from the east gate of Temple of Heaven Park ranges from shoes, leather bags, jackets, jeans, silk by the yard, electronics, Chinese arts, crafts and antiques to a galaxy of pearls (freshwater and seawater, white and black) on the 3rd floor. Prices for the latter vary incredibly with quality and more expensive specimens on the 4th and 5th floors.
reviewed
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F
Wudaokou Clothing Market
Cool kids head to this two-storey market in their droves, drawn by both the cheap prices and the funky styles which have often been adapted from Korean or Japanese designs. It’s at the junction with Xueyuan Lu.
reviewed
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G
Yaxiu Clothing Market
Along with South Chaoyang's Silk Market, this is a travellers' favourite for clothes, outdoor gear, shoes and bags. Bargains aren't as common here as they once were so haggle hard!
reviewed
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H
Jayi Clothing Market
Come to this market for great prices, friendly bargaining and a taste of what it was like at Yaxiu Clothing Market and the Silk Market before they got popular.
reviewed
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Pānjiāyuán Market
Hands down the best place to shop for gōngyì (crafts) and gǔwán (antiques) in Běijīng is Pānjiāyuán (aka the Dirt Market or the Sunday Market). The market only takes place on weekends and sprawls from calligraphy, Cultural Revolution memorabilia and cigarette-ad posters to Buddha heads, ceramics, Tibetan carpets and beyond. Up to 50,000 visitors scope for treasures here: if you want to join them, early Sunday morning is the best time. Also, ignore the 'don't pay more than half'' rule here – some vendors may start at 10 times the real price, so aim low. Make a few rounds at Pānjiāyuán before forking out for anything, to compare prices and weigh it all up. It's off Dong…
reviewed
