Top 9 Places to Buy Souvenirs in Beijing
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Beijing offers several markets with a mind-boggling variety of goods and, inevitably, there will come a day when you're looking for souvenirs for the trip back home. Here is our pick of the best places to pick up something unique. As for everything is negotiable with vendors in many Chinese markets, remember to double-check what you are buying and haggle for the best deal.
Qianmen Dashilan'r (前门大栅栏 qiánmén dàzhàlán or 前门大拾栏儿 qiánmén dàshílán'er) is pronounced as dazhalan but local people called it dashilan'r. Famous for its stores with an antique flavor, Dashilan'r has one of the most ancient and distinctive commercial streets in Beijing with a history of more than 500 years. You can find all of those Beijing time-honored brands: shoes from 内联升 nèiliánshēng, silk fabric at 瑞蚨祥 ruìfúxiáng, and hats from 马聚源 mǎjùyuán.
Qianmen, Xicheng District
西城区前门
Nearest subway station: Qianmen (Line 2)
(010) 6310 9680
Compared to Nanluoguxiang, Wudaoying Hutong (五道营胡同 wǔdàoyíng hútòng) is a must visit for a quieter and more relaxing affair. It has a great combination of modern and yet authentic, with plenty of ceramic shops, some industrial style cafes, and a few boutiques selling unique clothes, earrings, and handicrafts. It's not a big shopping street, but definitely worth a visit to explore these old hutongs and find some gifts.
Wudaoying Hutong, Andingmen, Dongcheng District
东城区安定门五道营胡同
Nearest subway station: Yonghegong Lama Temple (Line 2 or 5)
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With small and well preserved hutongs with a history of over 700 years dating back to the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries, Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷 nánluógǔxiàng) has become one of the most touristy areas in downtown Beijing. You can find a lot of interesting shops offering different kinds of snacks, jewelry, handicrafts designed by local artists, and even trendy T-shirts that you can add any image on. The downside of it is you might need to deal with the crowd and long lines.
Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区南锣鼓巷
Nearest subway station: Nanluoguxiang (Line 6 or 8)
The Wangfujing Shopping Street (王府井购物街 wángfǔjǐng gòuwùjiē) is one of the busiest commercial and modern streets in Beijing with many local and international shopping malls such as the Gongmei Mansion (工美大厦 gōngměi dàshà), APM Mall (aka Sundong'an Plaza 新东安广场 xīndōng'ān guǎngchǎng), and the Malls at Oriental Plaza (东方新天地 dōngfāng xīntiāndì). It's a shopper's paradise where you can find paintings, local art, and unique crafts from all over China.
Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District
东城区王府井大街
Nearest subway station: Wangfujing (Line 1)
First opening in 1992 as a roadside showcase, the Panjiayuan Antiques Market (潘家园旧货市场 pānjiāyuán jiùhuò shìchǎng) is one of the oldest, biggest, and best-known markets in Beijing, and has witnessed many changes in collectibles and craftsmanship. This market offers all kinds of vintage finds and reproductions: Chinese calligraphy, painting, porcelain vases, old communist propaganda posters, and ancient furniture.
Mon-Fri 8.30am-9pm, Sat 4.30am-9pm, Sun 6am-9pm (afterJul 29, it will close at 7.30pm)
Off of Southeast Third Ring Road, West of Panjiayuan Qiao, Chaoyang District
朝阳区潘家园桥西边
Nearest subway station: Panjiayuan (Line 10)
(010) 6774 1869
Under the framework of "One Belt, One Road", the Silk Market (秀水街 xiùshuǐ jiē) has been renovated this April, with a few floors added onto the old building. Now it has an upmarket feel, which is reflected in the pricing of their merchandise. You can find almost everything you need, from name-brand clothes and bags to "authentic" Chinese silk. One thing you need to keep it in mind is that it's unlikely that anything sold at the Silk Market is "real" and the price is not fixed; the more you haggle, the better price you might get.
Daily 9am-9pm
8 Xiushui Dongjie, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
朝阳区建国门外大街秀水东街8号
Nearest subway station: Yong'anli (Line 1)
(010) 5676 7766
Although smaller than the Silk Market, you can find many touristy things at the Hongqiao Pearl Market (红桥市场 hóngqiáo shìchǎng) to take back home as gifts. As its name suggests, it does sell more pearls than other markets, but you'll find other touristy souvenirs such as Chinese tchotchkes, beads, clothes, Chinese calligraphy, paintings, and some electronics. If you head up to the fifth floor balcony, you will have an amazing view of the Temple of Heaven. Don't forget to bargain if necessary.
Daily 10am-7pm
46 Hongqiao Lu, Dongchen gDistrict
东城区红桥路46号
Nearest subway station: Tiantan Dongmen (Line 5)
(010) 6713 3354
Zhongguancun, also called "China's Silicon Valley", is Beijing's high-tech center with many IT companies based there. The E-Mall (中关村电子城 zhōngguāncūn diànzǐchéng) sells different brands of computers, notebooks, and components at low prices. You can also find reasonably priced computer repair services here. Many stores moved out due to last year's renovation, but now you can still find a wide range of stores for everything related to electronics. Be aware that many brand products might not be real.
Daily 9am-6pm
18 Zhongguancun Street, Handian District
海淀区中关村大街18号
(010) 8253 6688
If you or any of your family member is a tea fan, then the Maliandao Tea City (马连道茶城 mǎliándào cháchéng) is a great place to get a glimpse into Chinese tea culture. As the largest tea market in northern China, the market specializes in anything associated with tea. You can find many different types of tea with prices ranging from dirt cheap to super expensive, as well as teacups and teapots. Here, some tea shops offer free tea for guests to taste first, and then you can bargain with the owner.
Daily. 8.30am-6pm
11 Maliandao Road, XichengDistrict
西城区马连道路11号
(010) 6334 2683
Photos: thebeijinger.com, 163.com, dianping.com, tooopen.com, dp.pconline.com.cn，wikimedia.org
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