Shopping in Běijīng
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A
Jenny Lou's
This Western-oriented grocery store has it all - Lebanese yogurt, French cognac, Russian beer and snacks and foodstuff from back home, wherever that may be.
reviewed
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B
Rouge Baiser
Sumptuous sheets, cute kiddies’ clothes, and posh pyjamas and kimonos are sold here, all created by a Shanghai-based French designer.
reviewed
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C
Friendship Supermarket
There are two branches of the redoubtable Friendship Supermarket, once the only place in Běijīng to go for a taste of home.
reviewed
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Carrefour
The best supermarkets in Běijīng belong to the French hypermarket chain Carrefour, which moved into China early on. Carrefour stock just about everything you need, as well as providing ATMs and taking credit cards. Its supermarkets are open every day and are always crowded.
reviewed
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Carrefour
The best supermarkets in Běijīng belong to the French hypermarket chain Carrefour, which moved into China early on. Carrefour stock just about everything you need, as well as providing ATMs and taking credit cards. Its supermarkets are open every day and are always crowded.
reviewed
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D
Sanfo
With no less than three shops grouped together, Sanfo is the place to come for outdoor wear, climbing and camping gear, as well as surfboards, mountain bikes and anything you might need if you’re into adventure sports. It’s something of a nexus for Beijing’s hikers and climbers – Sanfo organises weekend trips – and is a good place to pick up information, as well as the supplies you’ll need if you’re thinking of walking the Great Wall for a few days.
reviewed
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Zhāoyuán Gé
If you love Chinese kites, you'll enjoy this minute shop on the western side of Nanheyan Dajie. Chinese paper kites range from Y10 for a simple kite, up to around Y300 for a dragon; miniature Chinese kites start from Y25. You can also browse Běijīng opera masks, snuff bottles, chopsticks, Mao badges and zǐshā teapots. The owner does not speak much English, but you can look around and make a selection.
reviewed
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The Place
With its vast outdoor video screen, snappy shopping plaza The Place has lured big names Zara, French Connection, Miss Sixty and Mango, as well as Chaterhouse Booktrader; there's a good food court in the basement.
reviewed
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Pottery Workshop
Another Shànghǎi import on Nanluogu Xiang, this appealing shop sells good-looking ceramics from traditional cool-green celadon tea sets to inventive and artistic creations. It's just north of Qiangulouyuan Hutong, and opens 'when they feel like it'.
reviewed
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E
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…
reviewed
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Liulichang Xijie
Běijīng's premier antique street, not far west of Dashilar, is worth delving along for its quaint, albeit dressed-up, age-old village atmosphere and (largely fake) antiques. Alongside ersatz Qing monochrome bowls and Cultural Revolution kitsch, you can also rummage through old Chinese books, paintings, brushes, ink and paper. Prepare yourself for pushy sales staff and stratospheric prices. If you want a chop (carved seal) made, you can do it here. At the western end of Liulichang Xijie, a collection of ramshackle stalls flog bric-a-brac, Buddhist statuary, Cultural Revolution pamphlets and posters, fake Tang-dynasty sāncǎi (three-colour porcelain), shoes for bound…
reviewed
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F
Garden Books
Sibling of the Shànghǎi branch, above the Sequoia Café.
reviewed
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Clockwork Monkey
Fun and colourful collection of old and reproduction toy tin robots, cars, boats, trains and puppets along bustling Nanluogu Xiang, just north of the corner with Heizhima Hutong and next to the Wěnyǔ Cheese Shop at No 49. Great for children and kiddults alike.
reviewed
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Bookworm Café
Growing section of new and almost new books for sale. Library members can borrow a maximum of two books at a time.
reviewed
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H
Plastered T-Shirts
Fun range of tongue-in-cheek, ironic and iconic T-shirts, fitting neatly into the entertaining Nanluogu Xiang mentality.
reviewed
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I
Place
Dominated by its spectacular giant outdoor video screen, an object of fascination for kids, the Place has an extremely popular branch of Zara, as well as French Connection and Miss Sixty, and one of Běijīng’s best book stores in Chaterhouse Booktrader. There’s a good food court in the basement, too.
reviewed
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J
Bannerman Tang's Toys & Crafts
Marvellous collection of handmade toys and delightful collectibles from Chinese weebles (budao weng; from Y30), puppets, clay figures, tiger pillows to kites and other gorgeous items; it's just along from the Confucius Temple.
reviewed
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K
Tóngréntáng
Peddling pills and potions since 1669, this was the former royal dispensary. Now, it claims to be able to cure anything from fright to encephalitis. Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors are available for on-the-spot consultations.
reviewed