Beijing Curio City
Chinese name: 北京古玩城
It is the largest curio distribution center in Asia. The curio city covers an area about 23,400 square meters (5.8 acres). There are about 500 stores dealing with ancient porcelain, paintings, calligraphy, jade, carving, bronze ware, antique furniture, carpet, clocks and jewelry. The curio city is like a big museum, and you can just wander around to get more knowledge about Chinese culture. Your eyes will be dazzled by these ancient art treasures.

Every year, the curio city holds several regular exhibitions to show the curios and art treasures. There are also many exhibition fairs, auctions, as well as lectures on curio knowledge. The Folk Culture Festival in January, Auction Week in May and Exhibition Fair in October are the most popular activities amongst them. They attract thousands of visitors coming here to choose their favorite curios.

The Beijing Curio City is well organized with a series of supporting facilities. There are some experts in the market, offering professional services and giving special instructions to the curio lovers.

Location: No.21, South 3rd East Ring Road, Chaoyang District
Bus Route: 300, 28, 368, 607, 907 (get off at Panjiayuan Stop or Shilihe Stop)

Panjiayuan Folk Culture Market
Located at the southeast corner of the 3rd Ring Road, Panjiayuan Folk Culture Market is the largest market selling second hand goods and curios in the area. It is like a big museum, attracting visitors at home and aboard with its unique charm. You can find many types of goods, including calligraphy, Chinese painting, writing brush, ivory carving, traditional Chinese musical instruments, porcelain and ancient furniture. There are some peddlers from ethnic minorities, hawking their national handicrafts, like Hui, Mongol, Miao, Korean and Manchu. Here are some of the goods that are of interest to visitors:

Porcelains
Porcelain is the most typical of Chinese craftworks, and show eastern cultural features. They are highly prized by foreign visitors for their exquisite design and special styles. There is some ancient porcelain from hundreds of years ago, as well as less expensive imitations sold in the market.

Ancient Propaganda Pictures
There are many booths selling ancient books and propaganda pictures. The pictures describe the cultural life after the foundation of the PRC and reflect the simple spirit of the times. Mr. Liu Zhanquan is a famous collector of hundreds of ancient propaganda pictures. The pictures enjoyed by visitors and show the features of the times.
Location of Liu Zhanquan's shop: No.212, 2/F, Modern Collection Area, Panjiayuan Folk Culture Market

Carved Furniture
Carved furniture is a traditional Chinese wood-working technique, and is well liked by locals for thousands of years. The furniture is skillfully carved in into vivid flowers, spirits or animal designs. There are many kinds of carvings, including doors, windows, cupboards and wardrobes. They are an ideal furniture decoration for the house with classical features.

Tips: To remind you, the stores in the market open everyday while the street stalls just open on weekends.
Finding a real curio here requires sharp eyes and plenty of related background knowledge.

Location: No.200, west of Panjiayuan Qiao, Chaoyang District
Bus Route: 63, 802, 300 (get off at Panjiayuan Stop)

Liangma Collection Market
Chinese name: 亮马收藏品市场
Opened in 1992, the market occupies an area of 5,000 square meters (1.2 acres). There are about 200 stores engaged in selling porcelain, jade, ancient clocks, cameras, paintings, carpets and antique furniture.
Location: No.59, Liangma Lu, Chaoyang District

Hongqiao Curio Market
Chinese name: 红桥古玩市场
The curio market is located on the third floor of Hongqiao Emporium. Most of the curios sold here are cheap imitations.
Location: 3rd floor of Hongqiao Emporium, Tiantan Gongyuan Donglu, Chongwen District
Bus Route: 6, 35, 108 (get off at Chongwenmen Stop, about 2,000 meters (1.1 miles) south of the bus station)

Lvjiaying Antique Furniture Market
Chinese name: 吕家营古旧家具市场
It is a distribution center for antique furniture in Beijing. There are 150 workshops making furniture in the market.
Location: Lvjiaying Cun, Shibalidian Xiang, Chaoyang District

Gaobeidian Antique Furniture Street
Chinese name: 高碑店古旧家具街
The street has decades of years history as a special street offering classical furniture.
Location: Gaobeidian, Wangsiying Xiang, Chaoyang District (east of Gaobeidian Lu)

Curio City Fenzhong Temple Antique Furniture Market
Chinese name: 古玩城分钟寺古典家具市场
It is the largest indoor market selling antique furniture.
Location: No.519, Fenzhong Temple, East 3rd South Ring Road, Fengtai District
Bus Route: 857, 812, 830, 826, 757, 803, 807, 750, 723, 627 (get off at Chengshou Temple Stop, south of the bus station)

Haiwangcun Curio Market
Chinese name: 海王村古玩市场
Rebuilt from Chinese Bookstore, the market is 1,100 square meters (nearly 0.3 acres) with over 70 stores.
Location: No.115, Liulichang Dong Jie, Xuanwu District

Baoguo Temple Culture Market
Chinese name: 报国寺文化市场
Location: Baoguo Temple, Guanganmennei, Xuanwu District

Rongxing Art Gallery Folk Culture Market
Chinese name: 荣兴艺廊旧货市场
Location: No.19, Liulichang Xijie, Xuanwu District