Beijing Shopping

China is an interesting place to go shopping, and Beijing has a long history as a commercial and cultural center. It you are not keen on shopping, a trip to a Chinese department store is still quite an experience and gives you a taste of everyday life in China.
Beijing has four major shopping streets-Wangfujing, Xidan, Xisi and Qianmen, but large department stores and supermarkets can be found in all the residential areas in the city. There are also many special markets for special goods like antiques, arts and crafts, paintings and calligraphy, silk and books. Therefore, where to shop depends on what you want to buy and what price you expect to pay. The prices in large department stores are fixed, but you can bargain and get a good deal in those open markets, free markets, small shops and some special shops. Here is the quick facts about Beijing shopping.  If you want list of all suggested shopping scenes check Beijing Shopping Index

Qianmen-Dashalan Business Street

Qianmen-Dashalan Business Street lies in the southern city of Beijing. It is to the south of Zhengyangmen and to the west of the central line. This is an old walking shopping street that has a long history. There are a lot of famous shops that all have more than one hundred years’ history, such as Liubiju sauce and pickle shop, Tongrentang drugstore, Ruifuxiang silk shop, Neiliaansheng shoes shop and so on.

Wangfujing Business Street

Wangfujing Business Street lies in Dongcheng District, the center of Beijing. Here and Tiananmen Square are 1 kilometer apart. It is a beautiful walking street. Here is the well-known Beijing Department Store, the famous Dong’an Market, the biggest arts and crafts shop in China, the biggest Xinhua Bookstore, the Foreign Languages Bookstore, Lisheng Sports Shop and Medical Appliances Shop. Also, here are some famous old shops, such as Shengxifu hats shop, Tonghesheng shoes shop, New World silk shop, Hengteli watchmaker’s shop, Baicaoshenrong drugstore and Jiguge historical relic shop, etc.

Xidan Business Street

Xidan Business Street is in Xicheng District, the center of Beijing. Here and Tiananmen Square are 1.5 kilometers apart. It is developed after the found of China. Here is the famous Xidan Market, Xidan Shopping Center and some old shops, such as Shengxifu hats shop and Jingyi glasses shop.

Beijing Shopping Centers:

1. Yansha Friendship Shop: lies in No.52 Liangmahe Road, Chaoyang District, and Beijing.
2. Saite Shopping Center: lies in Jianwai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
3. Friendship Shop: lies in No.17 Jianwai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

Beijing Special Shopping Markets

1. Flea and antique markets
Panjiayuan Flea Market (the third eastern and southern circle)
Haiwangcun Flea Market (Liulichang)
Hongqiao Flea Market (the northern gate of the Temple of Heaven)

2. Arts, pearls and jewels
China Arts and Crafts Shop (the eastern part of Wangfujing Street)
White Peacock Arts World (Houjiutiao Ande Road, Dongcheng District)

3. Silk Shops
Yuanlonggu Silk Shop (No.55 Tiantan Road): it is a famous old shop, there is original color silks, green satins and brocades, also there is carpets, tapestries, Chinese writings and paintings, etc.

4. Writings and paintings shops
China Bookstore (Eastern Liulichang): sell Chinese old books Rongbaozhai (No.19 Western Street of Liulichang): sell writing brushes, ink, paper, ink stones and Chinese writings and paintings.

5. Drugstores
Tongrentang Drugstore (Dashalan of Qianmen Street): it was built in the 8th year of Emperor Kangxi; it mainly sells pills and plasters. There are Ten Famous Medicines, such as Zaiao Pill, Nvjindan and so on.

6. Bookstore
Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore (No.214 Wangfujing Street): It sells all kinds of books. Beijing Books Building (Xidan in Western Chang’an Street).