China Shopping Tips by swesn

BEIJING : SILK MARKET

The SILK MARKET or XIU SHUI SHI CHANG is where you can buy many clothe-items like North Face, Timberland jackets, even branded things like Prada. Naturally, not many are authentic. This is also the place to buy your Oriental cheongsam - the tight, figure-hugging Oriental dress.

Go EARLY to avoid crowds and remember to bargain.

Or, go LATE in the afternoon, just before closing (should be before sun-down) when vendors are keen to make their final sales before they pack up.

Directions: The market is located along the East-West metro line, very near to Yong An Li metro station, on Jianguomenwai Dajie.

Theme: Other

DEPARTMENT STORES WITH TEDIOUS PAYMENT PROCEDURES

There are a few modern Department Stores and Supermarkets that have cash registers where you line up and pay normally.

Other traditional ones are of the following procedure.

You pick an item, say, a towel. You get the attention of a nearby store-assistant. She takes the towel from you, fills out a set of 3-chits and hands the chits over to you. You go hunt for a tiny counter which is the cashier. You hand over the chits to her and make your payment. She calculates your change with an abacus, stamps something on the 3 chits, tears one chit off, returns you 2 chits. You return to the towel department and finds the store-assistant chatting with her cronies. You hand over the remaining 2 chits to her. She inspects it, tears 1 chit from them and hands over the towel in a plastic bag.

There....

Theme: Department Store

BEIJING : PANJIAYUAN MARKET

Panjiayuan is the HUMONGOUS market that is a great place to buy your Chinese souvenirs.

There are giant bronze Buddhas, (fake or real) antique vases, Tibetan scriptures, exotic sculptures, furniture, religious and fable characters made from brass, porcelain, wood, embroideries, wooden chests, tea-sets, Chinese paintings, snuff bottles, fake coins with the holes, and lots and lots of kitsch Oriental souvenirs like Mao alarm clocks, .

A delight to visit. You can spend many hours browsing the market. Bargain HARD. Go EARLY on Saturdays and Sundays.

Directions: Near to the South-East Third Ring Road. Best to get directions from your hostel before you head out.

Theme: Local Craft