China is an interesting place to go shopping, and Beijing has a long history as a commercial and cultural center. It you are not keen on shopping, a trip to a Chinese department store is still quite an experience and gives you a taste of everyday life in China.
Beijing has four major shopping streets-Wangfujing, Xidan, Xisi and Qianmen, but large department stores and supermarkets can be found in all the residential areas in the city. There are also many special markets for special goods like antiques, arts and crafts, paintings and calligraphy, silk and books. Therefore, where to shop depends on what you want to buy and what price you expect to pay. The prices in large department stores are fixed, but you can bargain and get a good deal in those open markets, free markets, small shops and some special shops.
Shops
**Panjiayuan flee market **
Big outdoor market with antiques (fake and real), ceramics including figurines of the cultural revolution, traditional paintings, minority clothes, old books etc. The right place to purchase and bargain for presents, any kind of souvenir or just something useless for your cup board. Open every weekend, busiest in the early morning hours when serious collectors do their hunting.
Wangfujing Market Street
This is the largest and busiest market street in Beijing, known not only in China but also abroad. Its southern end connects to the East Chang’an Avenue where the Beijing Hotel is located and its northern end to Jinyu Hutong where the Palace Hotel stands. Lining the street are many old stores selling silk, tea, jade and traditional Chinese medicine, alongside modern department stores and brand-name boutiques.
Xidan Market Street
Located just on the western side of the central axis of the city and north of West Chang’an Avenue, this street became a high street about 80 years ago with six small shops.
Now it has become an all-function shopping mall with department stores, shopping centers, specialized stores, bookshops, restaurants and cinemas all packed into a short stretch.
Qianmen Market Street and Dashilan
To the south of Tian’anmen Square and Qianmen Gate is a straight street running due south. This is the Qianmen market street, the oldest market street in Beijing with a history of five centuries. An east-west lane opening onto the street on its western side is the famous Dashilan.
Most of the long-established shops here date back to the Qing dynasty and still sell traditional silk, tea, herbal medicine and snacks.
Liulichang Culture Street
Located in the southwestern part of the city, Liulichang is a traditional market of old and rare books, antiques, paintings, calligraphy and arts & crafts. It is one of two streets that still keep the appearance of a Qing Dynasty market street (the other is Suzhou Street in the Summer Palace, mainly a reconstruction). It is the place to come for ink stones, brushes, rubbings and antiquarian books.
Dongsi Market Area
To the northeast of Wangfujing used to be an old fair around Longfu Temple. With the building of a large department store, the area gradually turned into a market area. Now there are many private shops along the adjacent street as well.
Dongdan Market Street
The street has experienced a boom recently, and is famous for selling imported goods. It is also known as the Silver Street, as opposed to the Golden Street-Wangfujing-about one block to its west.