INTRODUCTION
Almost everything one wishes to purchase is available somewhere in Beijing for one rice or another. Much depends on what the buyer expects and what they want to spend and if they can find it.
Many five star hotels have internationally known designer boutiques with higher prices than their countries of origin. No bargains here.
With a population of over 12 million, Beijing needs and has a wide variety of shopping venues at all cost levels.
Don't miss stopping in at a neighborhood grocery store when you see one, or strolling in a neighborhood market where one will truly see fresh food.

SHOPPING AREAS

Dongsi	Government Tourist Stores	Huotong Area Stores
Qianmen Dajie	Silver Street	Wangfujing Street
Xidan	Ganjiakou Market	Hongqiao Market
Liangmahe	Liulichang	Panjiayuan
Russian Market	Sanlitun Martket	Silk Market

DONGSI

This shopping area is located at the north end of Wangfujing near Longfu Temple. The Longfu Building is a large department store. Shops of every size and description as well as privately owned stalls are in the area.

>>>Back to Top

GOVERNMENT TOURIST STORES

The Friendship Store at 17 Jianguomenwai used to be the only store in Beijing serving the visitor. Money changing is available as well as purchases by credit cards. They have everything from silk to jade carvings and jewelry. Make this one of your first stops to check prices and quality before hitting the streets. Many people return to buy here because of the quality offered for a good price.

Government stores, conveniently located adjacent to government tourist restaurants, are usually visited by tour groups for lunch. Plenty of time is given for shopping. Money changing, lots of sales clerks, and credit card services, and shipping are available as well. Traditional Chinese goods are in abundance such as silk by the yard, jade, porcelains and ceramics, cloisonne', embroidery, lacquerware plus many more.

No bargaining in government stores, except perhaps on large purchase.

>>>Back to Top

HUOTONG AREA STORES

Shopping in some of these century-old stores can be a very unique experience . See them before the bulldozers clear the land for the emerging new Beijing. Might not find much to buy, but the shopping and strolling is fun.

>>>Back to Top

QIANMEN DAJIE

For over five hundred years this has been a main shopping area for the city and is located south of Tian'anmen Square.

Don't miss the Dazalan area, a huotong, alley, running west from the top of Qianmen. Food sellers, silk shops, theatres, Chinese Medicine Shops and clothing shops abound in this very alive shopping area. Some shop locations date back more than 400 years.

>>>Back to Top

SILVER STREET

Silver Street is parallel to and one block east of Wangfujing Street, and is an area for Western-style clothing.

>>>Back to Top

WANGFUJING STREET

This is Beijing's busiest commercial area and is normally full of shoppers. Besides many shops and restaurants there is an very large many storied mall. Prices are reasonable in this area as many stores are government owned. The street has recently been completely renovated.

The streets north-south from the Beijing Hotel to the Palace Hotel. The area is a good area to shop in as the visitor will not be cheated or overcharged.

No bargaining here, but lots of fun. The weekend is the most crowded time.

>>>Back to Top

XIDAN

This area is north of West Chang'an Avenue and has many different shopping options. Xiadan Market is the largest shop, and it has recently been modernized. wide range of merchandise is available along with a friendly and helpful staff makes shopping here extremely interesting. There is also a large Xidan Shopping Center in the immediate area.

>>>Back to Top

GANJIAKOU MARKET

When visiting the Beijing Zoo, the visitor might want to stop off to visit this market. It is located next to the McDonald's near the zoo.
Many clothing items are offered, but are mainly for Asian taste.

You can bargain here.

>>>Back to Top

HONGQIAO MARKET

Located near the Temple of Heaven on Tiantan Street, this market offers antiques, clothing, porcelain, produce and much more. Shop all three floors in the main building, but don't miss the antiques hidden behind the pearl stalls on the third floor. Lots of souvenirs.

Bargaining is expected.

>>>Back to Top

LIANGMAHE

This market of about 50 small stores is located across the street from the Kempenski Hotel on the East Third Ring Road. There is a little of everything, but mainly ceramics, paintings and antique furniture. A couple of the furniture stores have larger warehouses in other areas.

Prices look high, but you can really bargain them down here. Stay with it.

>>>Back to Top

LIULICHANG

Located southwest of Qianmen, this market specializes in Chinese paintings, calligraphy, rare books, and arts and crafts. At this market the shops all have the look of a traditional Qing Dynasty market area having been rebuilt in the 1980's. A fun place to stroll through and shop.

Bargaining is limited here.

>>>Back to Top

PANJIAYUAN

Antique lovers who know their stuff will be very happy shopping here.
Most of the real antiques vendors are in the rear area of the market and are usually peasants from the countryside who sell items collected in their villages. Come very early on weekends, Sunday is the best day for the antiques.

Bargain hard here.

>>>Back to Top

RUSSIAN MARKET

Not as interesting as when more Russians were traveling to Beijing in droves to purchase clothing for resale back in Russia. Very cheap, but the quality is not there. It is located on the west side of Ritan Park.
No designer knock-offs available here, but it can still be fun to wander through.  

Bargain here for sure.

>>>Back to Top

SANLITUN MARKET

Located on Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District, near the northeast embassy area, is similar to the Silk Market, but the prices are not quite as high and it is not as crowded. Designer, or fake designer, jeans, shoes and ladies wear are in clothing stalls on one side of the street with restaurants on the other side. Big outlet for black market goods such as computer items and CD's.

Bargain here.

>>>Back to Top

SILK MARKET

Also known as Xiu Shui, Silk Alley is really a north-south alley which runs from Xiu Shui Street south past the US Embassy to Jianguomenwai Avenue. Many silk items and other type of garments are for sale.
Designer jeans, silk pajamas, silk scarves, outdoor jackets, shoes, children's clothes. Don't necessarily believe the designer label inside the garment. One never knows what will be for sale on silk alley on any one day, but many black market items are everywhere.  CD's . Beanie Babies, and computer items aren't usually the real thing. A real fun place to stroll, and bargaining is expected. It is usually very crowded. Food vendors are usually there as well.

>>>Back to Top