Asia - Best Handicraft Shopping in Beijing?

I would appreciate it if Moondog or some other China expert could give me a suggestion on the best place in Beijing to shop for Chinese handicrafts, especially cloisonne (enamel wares), silk or jade.

I'm thinking of place between the high-end department stores and the really shady pirate DVD swap meets. In other words, some place where bargaining is allowed, that does not sell true museum pieces or touristy junk, but quality items one might wear or display at home.

I enjoyed swap meet-style markets like the jade markets in Taipei and Hong Kong because I don't go with the expection that I'm EVER going to out bargain those crafty dealers. I just buy a few pretty baubles for not much money, and everybody is happy. That's my attitude!

I'm in Beijing now and I would like a tip or two as well. My last time here I shopped at the Friendship store which was loaded with several floors of handcrafted items. Really great stuff at great prices. Does that still exist?

Check out the Hongqiao market near the Temple of Heaven (I'm pretty sure it still exists). I'd love to take you guys down there, but my schedule is a little tight this week (though I can still do drinks most evenings).

Edited to add: You might want to stop by Liulichang on the way there. Taks the subway to Hepingmen and go south.... then grab a taxi to the other place. Obviously, you'd do well to carry a map.

Check out the Hongqiao market near the Temple of Heaven (I'm pretty sure it still exists).

What about the new Silk Market? :p

What about the new Silk Market? :p

Of course you should go there as well, but the other places are little (only a little, mind you) more high-end.

The Hongqiao market is a good place to start. Don't forget to stock up on pearls while you are there. On the same floor at the pearl stars there are many small stalls with gifts. On the other end of the floor are the "antiques" stalls. There are some good buys there if you're a good haggler. Start really low on the pearls as well.

Also, take an evening and go to the night market and have some deep fried scorpions (good) ^ but stay away from the starfish (bad) :td:

Check out the Hongqiao market near the Temple of Heaven (I'm pretty sure it still exists). I'd love to take you guys down there, but my schedule is a little tight this week (though I can still do drinks most evenings).

Edited to add: You might want to stop by Liulichang on the way there. Taks the subway to Hepingmen and go south.... then grab a taxi to the other place. Obviously, you'd do well to carry a map.

I've just been lurking so far, but please let me add my thanks for the advice. I'm heading off to Beijing next week to meet up with a new employee there, and I'll be bringing my wife along so she can explore the city and spend money while I'm working. Any advice for additional places to shop, or dining places not to miss in the Haidan area?

Thanks in advance -

Any advice for additional places to shop, or dining places not to miss in the Haidan area?


Haidian is a bit off the radar insofar as most of the monthlies are concerned, but I have been spending a lot more time there of late because I have a friend who's studying at BeiDa right now. So all I can recommend at this stage are the Korean restaurants at Wudaokou. I will keep my eyes peeled over the weekend.

Can someone tell me where the new silk market is? Sondra and I will be in Biejing Aug 30-Sept 4.

Also, can anyone recommend a good source for things to do (Other then the usual Great Wall, Tianamen Square, etc.), including excursions, for the 5 days we will be there. We will be at the St. Regis.

Can someone tell me where the new silk market is? Sondra and I will be in Biejing Aug 30-Sept 4.

Also, can anyone recommend a good source for things to do (Other then the usual Great Wall, Tianamen Square, etc.), including excursions, for the 5 days we will be there. We will be at the St. Regis.

the big one is on the nw corner of yonganli.

many people prefer the market on gongti north road in sanlitun (less touristy).

the third fake market i know of is just west of the kunlun on the opposite side of the street. i don't like that one as much.

as far as things to do are concerned, i've heard decent things about the following site and have almost considered going on one of their excursions myself:

http://highclub.cn/highen/main.asp

as far as things to do are concerned, i've heard decent things about the following site and have almost considered going on one of their excursions myself:

http://highclub.cn/highen/main.asp

I would highly recommend a visit to Pingyao, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that is featured as a tour on the website moondog posted.

As for things to do in Beijing, I would also recommend buying a guide book. I think Beijing is one of the great cities to go sightseeing -- at least before all the interesting parts get razed -- given the history and the size of the city but if it's your second or third visit and you don't want to say "been there done that", you need to be a little creative.

For example, you can visit another section of the Great Wall. Most folks head up to Mutianyu on their first visit, but the Simatai section is more impressive (and steeper) in my opinion, and you can hike it, but only if you don't suffer from vertigo.

The Bell Tower north of the Forbidden City, near the where the hutong tours start and Houhai Lake, is also a nice visit. Heck, do a hidden hutong tour, too. You can also ask to see the construction damage for the 2008 Olympic Village in the northern part of the city.

Lastly, there are some very big open-air flea markets in Beijing, including Panjiayuan in the south east of the city (a ~30 RMB cab ride from the St Regis). You can get your fair share of kitschy Mao souvenirs, scroll paintings, Tibetan prayer flags, Shanghai Girl posters, etc. but there are no fake North Face jackets or LV bags to be had. That's not to say that the antique Buddhas aren't fakes but there are what-appear-to-be-serious coin collectors, calligraphy shops, and some furniture shops as well. With the exception of the Sunday market in Kashgar, it is my favorite market in China.

but the Simatai section is more impressive (and steeper) in my opinion, and you can hike it, but only if you don't suffer from vertigo.

Simitai is great. The day a friend and I went the place was deserted. They had to start the lift up for us. After the lift takes you halfway it's a heck of a hike. At the end you can take a zip line down or you can hike. I would suggest Simitai as well.

Simitai is great. The day a friend and I went the place was deserted. They had to start the lift up for us. After the lift takes you halfway it's a heck of a hike. At the end you can take a zip line down or you can hike. I would suggest Simitai as well.

Simatai isn't so desserted any more. While it's certainly less convenient to get there than to Badaling or Mutianyu, the whole idea that Simatai is accessible, but remote has caught on big-time. Therefore, I would be loath to categorize is at as "desserted" these days. In short, if you're willing to spend 1.5 hours to get to the Great Wall, you'b best find a different spot.

best handicrafts by far at the pearl market. you need to look first, know prices (do friendship store to see these without having to ask), and then bargain like crazy. i bought the exact same things you find in hk for about 1/3 the price on average.

there's fabulous reflexology walking distance from friendship store.

i stayed in haidian two years ago and we had the most wonderful local hole-in-the-wall food. fabulous handmade pasta dishes that rival anything from italy (where do you think italy got pasta from?). fabulous ice creams. we just walked, smelled, and ate.

i went with friends to simatai and we had a great and unforgettable time. went in morning and it was getting a bit busy as we left, but nothing to speak of.

I was too busy to look for bargains, so I ended up shopping at the Friendship store. I think that if you want guaranteed excellent quality silk clothes, you should shop at the Friendship store. Yes the prices are much higher than the Silk market, but you can be assured that the quality is very good. And it's still a lot cheaper than buying the same thing in Europe or the US.