What to Buy
Beijing Craftworks Beijing Local Products
As the capital city of the Five Dynasties of China, Beijing has a history of over thousands of years. It was known as a metropolis with developed businesses and a prosperous economy since ancient times. Many skillful craftsmen settled the area long ago, and passed down their excellent skills generation by generation. We can still find the traditional handcrafts with typical eastern features in the many business streets and markets. Cloisonné, Ivory Carving, Jade and Lacquer are known as the four best traditional handiworks of Beijing. In addition, Curios, Silk, Pearls, Snuff Bottles with Pictures Inside, and Artificial Flowers are also worth buying and well liked by tourists. Candied Fruits and confectionaries of all kinds will make your mouth water, and are wonderful presents for friends. Where to Buy Commercial Streets
A visitor will also find many large and middle sized shopping complexes scattered about the city. Just flow along with the flocks to pedestrian streets and experience the authentic atmosphere of Beijing.
Four largest business zones in Beijing:
Wangfujing Dajie, Qianmen, Xidan Commercial Street and Dongsi
Some featured business streets:
Hongqiao Pearl Market, Xiushui (Silk) Street, Other Pedestrian Streets Antique Markets
To buy traditional handicrafts with typical eastern or Beijing features, visitorscan have a try in those antique markets.
Liulichang Cultural Street :a famous antique market since extremely long Department Stores
Large-scaled shopping malls with luxury goods of super brands are everywhere to be found in the city center, such as Beijing Friendship Store, Shin Kong Palace, Lufthansa Center and Parkson. Feature Stores
Some feature shops of hundreds years are really worth visiting. For example, silk shop Rui Fu Xiang was opened in 1893, shoe stores Nei Lian Sheng began 150 years ago. Prints of old Beijing are still visible through these time-honored brand shops. Supermarkets
Many large international and national supermarkets established their chain shops in Beijing, including Wal-mart, Metro, Watsons, Carrefour, Auchan, Lotus Supercenter and Century Mart. Wholesale Markets
For notions and other small commodities, relatively cheap wholesale markets are best choices if you mind the price rather than clamor and bargaining, where costumes and shoes, electronic and digital products tea or flowers all can be found. Bookstores
Books are another important way to know more about the city, the country and a perfect means to spend their free times. Famous and authentic bookstores in Beijing will offer help to foreign buyers to find what they want more easily.
Tips: The summer hours for most Beijing shopping malls are 08:30 - 21:30; in winter they are closed either a half or one hour earlier than in summer. All the emporia, hotels and large restaurants in city center and Tourism Appointed Stores have foreign exchange counters and ATM. Credit cards (including Visa, MasterCard, AE, Dinersclub and JCB) are also acceptable there. Bringing some cash is always necessary in the event that you'd like to buy something from the street vendors.
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Travelers' Voices on Beijing Shopping
1.
Nov. 5,2009 16:54 Reply
Mr.jesus(Mexico) said:
hello im gonna be in beijing atleast for 6 months (exchange) starting in february and i wanted to ask if somebody knows about a true religion jeans store/retailers or a rock and republic store/retailers, and do u guys think that a pair of gucci sneakers would be as expensive as idk usa, paris, im hoping maybe the currency could save me some money,,, also i would like to know some chinese brands for ppl around 20yo kindof zara
and how much would it cost an iphone maybe with a year plan
tnx in advance, cheers from monterrey, mexico
2.
Nov. 5,2009 01:11 Reply
Ms.Shima(Singapore) said:
I'll visit Beijing,fr 5-12Dec. I would like to know what things you recommend me to buy at reasonable price? For Silk material, how much does it cost? For sweaters will it be alright to buy so that I no need to bring along more from my homeland. Thanks
Nov. 5,2009 02:31
Ms.Eva replied:
Hi
If you want to buy silk, you’d better go to Ruifuxiang(a store dealing in silk), Qianmen Street. There are a lot of shopping mall in Beijing. You don’t need to bring more.
3.
Nov. 4,2009 04:33 Reply
Mrs.naraa(Mongolia) said:
hi. I'm travelling to beijing in end of the november and i would like to buy gold ring. But i want to know how much is 1gramm of pure gold,i heard 1gramm of gold is about 240rmb is it true or false. What about the white gold is it really pure or just the plated one . Please help me for this. tnx
Nov. 4,2009 23:55
Ms.May replied:
Hello Mrs.naraa：
It is true that 1 gram of gold equals to RMB 248 on Nov.5 th. White gold is plated one.
4.
Nov. 3,2009 03:05 Reply
Mrs.Muti(Indonesia) said:
Hi there!
What time does these commercial streets like Wangfujing, Silk Market, or Xidan closed?
And I heard from a friend that china also produce crocs shoes. where can i buy it?
FYI, i will stay at jianguomenwai avenue. hope you can help me... thanks...
5.
Nov. 2,2009 22:12 Reply
Mr.Rafie(Malaysia) said:
Hi,
I'll be in beijing from 4Dec to 11Dec. I'm planning to buy my winter cloth once i arrive there.Could you please advise where is the best place to buy winter cloth (COLUMBIA,NORTH FACE) so that i can just ask my tour guide straightly go there and buy.I'm planning to buy a good quality winter cloth.Although most of the item is fake, but could you please let me know where to find the good one?
Nov. 2,2009 23:51
Ms.Wendy replied:
Mr.Rafie
You can find the brand in Xindongan Shopping Mall(Wangfujin Street)and New World Department Store(No.3 Chongwenmen Waidajie).
Nov. 3,2009 02:09
Mr.Rafie(Malaysia) replied:
Thanks Wendy
By the way, is this 2 stores you mention sell an original or fake item of COLUMBIA product?Just curious.
6.
Nov. 2,2009 22:06 Reply
Mrs.SIROTA(USA) said:
I AM TRAVELLING TO BEIJING AND OTHER AREAS OF CHINA, TOURING INCLUDING A YANGZE RIVER CRUISE. I WEAR A SIZE 5 SHOE, IS BUYING SHOES A GOOD IDEA? WHERE DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST PLACE TO SHOP? BEIJING, SHANGHAI, CHONKING, GUILLAN, ETC. ? I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE (MORE THAN N.Y.) IS THIS TRUE? I LEAVE NOV. 7TH.
THANK YOU
RUTH
Nov. 2,2009 23:21
Ms.Lily replied:
Mrs.SIROTA
It depends on what you want to buy and where.You can choose some shopping malls in the Wangfujing.
7.
Nov. 2,2009 05:39 Reply
Mr.mohsen(iran) said:
thanks for information
8.
Oct. 31,2009 12:46 Reply
Mr.dariusz(poland) said:
I will be in beijing 20 november - 26 november .I search cheap hotel center not far .I search with sun-glasses wholesale firm.Please, about assistance. I thank :-)
Nov. 1,2009 21:49
Mr.kim replied:
Mr, dariusz, there are many hotels in the central area. Check this page and choose the hotels Nearby Tiananmen Sqaure/Wangfujin Avenue:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/hotel/beijing-hotels.htm
Hope you could find your preferred one.
9.
Oct. 31,2009 08:16 Reply
Mrs.tuul(mongolia) said:
hello. im travelling to beijing in november and i heard h&m outlet store opened in beijing. I know three store opened in beijing. But I want to know the outlet store address.Anyone know the address of H&M outlet store please tell me. please tnx
Nov. 1,2009 20:59
Mr.Bruce replied:
As far as i know, there are five H&M outlet stores in Beijing.
H&M outlet store in Joy City (大悦城)
No. 131 Xidan Bei Da Jie, Xicheng District
H&M outlet store in ECMall (欧美汇购物中心)
No. 1 Danling Street, Haidian District
H&M outlet store in Raffels City(来福士购物中心)
No1 Dongzhimen Nan Da Jie, Dongcheng District
H&M outlet store in Qianmen Avenue(前门大街)
No.72-82 Qianmen Avenue, Chongwen District
H&M outlet store in Glory Mall（国瑞购物中心）
No. 18 Chongwenmen Wai Da Jie, Chongwen District
10.
Oct. 30,2009 03:23 Reply
Ms.sara(mng) said:
hi im travelling to beijing in november and im looking to buy a mink coat. But im not sure about the quality and where can i get a cheap, good quality mink coat.Please tell me the best market or shop i can buy mink coat.please please
Oct. 31,2009 01:08
Mr.Charlie replied:
Please go to the Bairong Shimao Commercial City (百荣世贸商城) located at the northwest corner of Muxiyuan Qiao. You could find mink coat at the Zone C.