Beijing's Must-Meet Markets
Beijing offers shoppers a manifold supply of treasures, from cheap name brand knock-offs to antique trinkets. So long as you bargain hard and check for quality, the following venues will serve you well in your consumerist endeavors.
Silk Market
Perhaps Beijing’s best-known shopping site amongst tourists, the Silk Market offers six stories of sunglasses, DVDs, clothes, bags, scarves, watches and more. Beware of the loud and pushy vendors – they use their English skills to tout their products at inflated prices.
Daily 9am-9pm. 8 Xiushui Dongjie, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (5169 8800) 秀水市场，朝阳区建国门外大街秀水东街8号
Panjiayuan Antique Market
This “dirt market,” with its endless selection of both genuine and fake antiques, is the perfect place for taking care of your souvenir needs. Head over between six and 8.30am on a weekend morning to score the best bargains on anything from bone-carved opium pipes to porcelain vases and figurines to Qing-style furniture.
Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm, Sat-Sun 4.30am-6pm. West of Panjiayuan Qiao, Chaoyang District. (6775 2405) 潘家园，朝阳区潘家园桥西边
Wangfujing
As one of the oldest and most famous commercial areas, Wangfujing is a place every tourist must visit – if not for the massive bookstore, then for the famous arts and crafts store or the charming outdoor food stalls, which sell such tasty tidbits as soup dumplings and scorpions-on-a-stick.
Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District. 王府井，东城区王府井大街218号
Xidan Shopping Area
This is Beijing’s most intense shopping blitz. A potentially overwhelming conglomeration of malls and shopping centers offers everything from local boutiques where bargaining is a must, to foreign chain stores like H&M and Zara. The crushing weekend crowds are a marvel in themselves and give tourists a taste of authentic local shopping.
Xidanbei Dajie, Xicheng District. 西单， 西城区西单北大街
Ladies Street
With its extensive selection of purses, shoes, jewelry, clothes and home accessories, the Ladies Street market lives up to its name as a shopping haven for women. There is less room for bargaining than at Silk Market, but only because prices start out more reasonably. Don’t forget to check out the adjoining Laitai Flower Market for its huge range of orchids and outdoor plants.
Tianze Lu, Liangmaqiao, Chaoyang District. 女人街，朝阳区亮马桥天泽路
Liulichang
Also known as “antique street,” this restored historic area is worth checking out for its ancient books, calligraphy, paintings, ink stones, brushes and handicrafts.
Hepingmenwai, Xuanwu District. 宣武区和平门外
Hongqiao Market
Known as the Pearl Market for a reason – it sells strands of freshwater pearls starting at RMB 21, along with other semi-precious stones and handicrafts. Hongqiao is also well stocked with toys, electronics and pajamas, though they tend to be seriously overpriced.
Daily 9.30am-7pm. 46 Hongqiao Lu, Chongwen District. (6713 3354) 红桥市场, 崇文区红桥路46号
Sanlitun Village
A recent addition to the city, the shiny and modern Sanlitun Village burgeons with restaurants and stores which pull in crowds of expats and locals alike. Chow down on anything from curry to dim sum to crepes to pasta, while browsing through local boutiques and major chain stores like Steve Madden, American Apparel, Apple and Adidas.
Courtyard 19, Sanlitun Road, Sanlitun Area. 三里屯Village，朝阳区三里屯路19号院，城市宾馆北面
Zhongguancun
Pick up digital cameras, laptops, electronic dictionaries, hard drives, cell phones and more for cut-rate prices at this electronics mecca, but steel yourself for jam-packed crowds and aggressive bargaining. Zhongguancun Dajie, Haidian District. 中关村， 海淀区中关村大街
Wantong Market
Far less popular amongst tourists than Silk Market, but just as packed with goodies – and at fairer prices. Find only local faces here and more relaxed vendors, who sit back while you piece through their impressive selection of leather bags and shoes, school and home supplies and clothes.
2 Fuchengmenwai Dajie, Xicheng District. 万通市场，西城区阜成门外大街2号
