Shopping and Souvenirs

Shopping in Beijing is tremendously rewarding. Visitors will find the best products that China has to offer in the capital's stores while exploring a wide variety of interesting shopping venues like outdoor markets, small boutiques and luxury malls.

Prices in Beijing are generally very competitive, but that can depend on your bargaining skills. In places like department stores, prices are clearly marked and generally non-negotiable. Conversely, in markets, bazaars and shops where prices are not indicated, haggling is expected.

More egregious than paying too much is buying something that's mislabeled. Many of the pieces in markets like Liulichang and Panjiayuan are antique reproductions, not genuine antiques. A well-made antique reproduction can make a lovely purchase, so long as you don't pay an exorbitant sum to acquire it. Bear in mind that genuine antiques should have a red seal at the bottom indicating that they're authentic and can be exported from China, however, antiques dated before 1795 can't leave the country. Goods made after 1949 aren't considered antiques and won't have a seal. Be sure to keep your receipts since you may have to show them when departing China.

Beijing's contemporary art scene is among the most exciting in the world, drawing the international attention. Fortunately, paintings and prints by Chinese artists are far more affordable in China than they are overseas. Moreover, they are among the most original purchases you can make in the city and, if history is any guide, their value can appreciate significantly.

Among Beijing's best buys are art, antiques and reproductions, carpets, clothes, handicrafts, jewelry, silk and tea.

Where to Buy

Aduowei
This boutique features clothes, jewelry and accessories inspired by the designs of southwestern China's Miao ethnic minority. The most eye-catching and expensive item during a recent visit was a green (Chinese dress) made out of the traditional cloud-patterned brocade once worn by emperors (RMB 18 ,800). A white business suit with a traditional collar is a more affordable RMB 1,200. Coral and amber necklaces cost RMB 100 to 580, while handbags with floral embroidery cost RMB 680.
Address: Room 2010, Ritan Office Building, 15A Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District

Antique Carpets
This store sells genuine handcrafted antique carpets from all over China. The most stunning rugs come from Muslim oasis towns, like Khotan (Hetian) and Yarkand (Shache), in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Though prices here are high, starting at several thousand RMB, consider that a well-made antique rug is an investment that could outlive you by decades. Factors that determine the value of a carpet include its age, the quality of its knitting, the purity of its wool and dyes, and themanner in which it was made (i.e. by hand or machine).
Address: A6 Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang District (in the cluster of shops near the City Hotel, due east of the Workers' Stadium)

China World Trade Center
Known by ex-pats as Guomao, this shopping center is extremely fashionable thanks to stores like Mocchino, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Shanghai Tang. More affordable offerings are found in such shops as Max & Co., BCBG, Esprit and Red Earth makeup. You'll also find an artsy bookstore, children's shops, a CRC (foreign grocery) supermarket, a wine shop, Starbucks, Baskin Robbins and several restaurants, including Aria (in the China World Hotel). There's even an ice rink in the basement.
Address: China World Trade Center, 1 Jianguomenwai Da Jie, Chaoyang District

Friendship Store
This government-run department store aimed at tourists sells imported goods, groceries, English books and magazines, and a wealth of Chinese arts and crafts. This is a good one-stop destination for souvenirs
like silks, porcelain, carpets, paintings, cloisonné, embroidery, antiques and jewelry. Though prices here are higher than at the markets, quality is guaranteed and there's a shipping department to handle bulky
purchases
Add: 17 Jianguomenwai Da Jie, Chaoyang District

Hongqiao Market―The Pearl Market
Hongqiao is a shopping Mecca with individual stall holders selling clothes, suitcases, shoes, jewelry, old watches, vintage cameras, porcelain, jade, teapots, Cultural Revolution memorabilia and more. Hongqiao is most famous for its cultured pearls, which aremuch cheaper than they are in the West. When buying pearls, consider their luster, surface, shape and size. Real pearls should feel cooler andmore grainy than fakes. If you want to design your own necklace,most shops can accommodate you in less than 24 hours. A "Jackie Kennedy" style necklace with three strands of pearls should cost RMB 500, but baby pearl necklaces are as cheap as RMB 20 each.
Add: Tiantan Dong Lu, ChongwenDistrict (across from the east gate of the Temple of Heaven)

Liulichang
Spreading across both sides of Nanxinhua Jie, the Liulichang neighborhood is filled with stores selling art, antiques, antique reproductions and handicrafts. These include shadow puppets, ceramics, seals, opium pipes, paper lanterns, cloisonnéand Buddha statues. The area's most famous store is Rongbaozhai,which stocks supplies for the scholar, gentleman and artist, like ink stones – shallow basins in which ink blocks are mixed with water –calligraphy brushes, seals, paper and scrolls as well as lacquer boxes and paintings. Other stores worth visiting are the Cathay Bookshop and Jiguge.
Address: the intersection of Liulichang Xi Jie and Nanxinhua Jie, one block south of Qianmen Xi Da Jie

Lufthansa Center
The Lufthansa Center was the first Westernstyle department store built in Beijing. As its name implies, the shopping experience here is similar to an airport. You'll find tourist trinkets, perfume, books and expensive brand-name goods. That said,with somuch under one roof, the Lufthansa is a very practical place to shop.
Address: 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

Panjiayuan Flea Market
If you only shop in one place in Beijing, let it be Panjiayuan. This recently remodeled market is home to over 3,000 dealerswho scour China's countryside in search of antiques, family heirlooms and curios. Many of them arrive in Beijing on early Saturday mornings and head straight to Panjiayuan. Since they are eager to make their first sales, Beijing's best bargains are offered early on weekendmornings–between 6:30am and 8:30am. After that, more shoppers arrive and prices go up. During weekdays, themarket is a shadow of its weekend self.

Some dealers have stalls, others have actual shops and the remainder sell their goods outside Panjiayuan's east wall. On offer is a galaxy of attractive items, most of which were made in the last 80 years. There are Qing dynasty antiques but these are rare and may be hard for the untrained eye to distinguish.

Prices here are lower than anywhere else in Beijing. Popular items include china plates for RMB 15 and up; carved wood such as brush holders RMB 60 each, statues of Guanyin for RMB 250; pottery vases for RMB 40, opium pipes for RMB 80, carpets at RMB 400, calligraphy brushes for RMB 30, calligraphy scrolls at RMB 50, embroidered pillow cases for RMB 50, old Chinese jackets around RMB 100. You'll also find lots of jewelry and jade, though real jade can be hard to identify –it should be cool and harder than glass (try to scratch a piece of glasswith it).
Address: Panjiayuan Qiao, Chaoyang District (just inside the southeast Third Ring Road)

Qianxiangyi
Established in 1840, this is one of the most reputable silk shops in Beijing. The ground floor has a huge selection of silk bolts that are RMB 40 to 120 per meter. The 2nd floor has shirts, dresses, negligees, pajamas and gorgeous tapestries. The tapestries can cost as much as RMB 10,000 each. The store's tailors can custom-fit or design traditional qipaos (旗袍, Chinese dresses).
Address: 5 Zhubaoshi Jie, Xuanwu District (southwest of Qianmen)

Wangfujing
Beijing's most famous shopping district is this pedestrian only street in the center of town. It's girded on its northern and southern ends by two mega malls: Sun Dong'an Plaza and Oriental Plaza. There are several souvenir shops on Wangfujing as well as Beijing's largest children's store. In the evening, a lively food market sets up on nearby Donghuamen Da Jie (the avenue that crosses Wangfujing near Sun Dong'an Plaza) where you can feast on a multitude of inexpensive Chinese snacks. Even if you don't buy anything, Wangfujing is great place to stroll and people watch. Some visitors are approached by English-speaking "art students" trying to interest them in paintings that, it often turns out, are grossly overpriced.
Address: Wangfujing, Dongcheng District

Yaxiu Clothing Market
Very popular with ex-pats for its "real namebrand" clothes and accessories (e.g. jeans for RMB 100, jackets for RMB 280), Yaxiumarket also sells souvenir T-shirts for RMB 40, antique-style pillowcases are RMB 25, cloisonné, kites (RMB 25), porcelain sculptures (six small horses for RMB 90), jade (rings for RMB 60), sports equipment and more. There are many silk shops on the third floor including Ruifuxiang (瑞蚨祥). These sell bolts as well as ties for RMB 10, suits and traditional Chinese garments (RMB 250 and up for a qipao). There are tailors on-site who can custom make items for you.
Address: 58 Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District