Beijing Shopping – Shops, Stores, Best Buys & Inside Tips

Beijing Shopping

As the capital of the most populated country in the world, there’s nowhere else quite like the city of Beijing. And with that, Beijing shopping is a rather unique experience– from massive indoor markets to streets dedicated entirely to vendors and their wares, it’s near impossible to come here and not walk away with something.

Silk Street

This famous shopping spot is large a large bazaar, more reminiscent of Middle Eastern marketplaces. In addition to silk, you can find a lot of tourist stuff here like backpacks and cameras. Just go in with a game plan and expect to haggle over prices.

Wangfujing Street

This street is notable for its department stores combined with smaller shops where you can bargain. But the main attraction is Oriental Plaza, a large, ornate indoor mall with both western and eastern storefronts. When you feel like taking a break, check out the Great Food Hall on the fifth and sixth floors.

Hongqiao Maket

Also known as Pearl Market, this is a combination of shopping mall and traditional Chinese market that encompasses three floors of one large building. The first floor is a hodgepodge of random but useful stuff– from technology to hair accessories to jewlery and home goods. The second floor may at a glance appear to have designer goods, but be aware that most of those Gucci and Prada bags are actually just knock offs. The third floor is the actual pearl market. Find pearls of all shapes and sizes and even get pieces custom made.

Panjiayuan Market

China’s old and new come together in this large cluster of shops (numbering in the thousands). From modern clothing to antique figurines, coming here is like hunting for treasure. This is also a great place to get to know the different cultures of China, as vendors come from all over the country and often incorporate their own ethnic identities into their goods.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about Beijing shopping.