Attractions
Tian'anmen Square
At the very heart of Beijing, sits Tian'anmen Square , the largest urban square in the world. This vast space, measuring 40 hectares, has a historical significance to rival its size.
Enlarged in the 1960s, Tian'anmen Square now measures 880 meters from north to south, 500 meters from east to west and can accommodate up to one million people. Classical Beijing planning however, did not permit public squares. They were seen largely as dangerous places where crowds could gather and diverted attention and focus away from the Emperor. Tian'anmen Square is therefore, one of Beijing's most modern sites and largely Mao's concoction. The May 4th demonstrations in 1919 against the Treaty of Versailles took place here. So too did anti Japanese protests in 1935. Mao inspected his troops here during the Cultural revolution and in 1976, one million people gathered in the square to pay tribute to the Chairman. Today, visitors remember the square mostly for the images of the 1989 student demonstrations in this concrete mass which were relayed throughout the world.
The incredible size of the square, the gray colour of the surrounding buildings, the historical memories and the various monuments dotted about, leave some Western visitors unmoved by Tian'anmen. But the sheer wealth of historical sites and the political importance of the area make it a must- see for travelers to Beijing. This is not only the physical centre of China, but also the centre of power and politics. For Chinese visitors, the site is of utmost importance. Today, it's filled with tourists visiting Chairman Mao's tomb, or paying their respects at the monument to the heroes of the Revolution. In the evenings, after the ceremonial lowering of the flag, courting couples and families parade the heart of the city. The easiest approach to the square is from the south, where there's a bus terminus and a subway stop. The Chinese flag is raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset when PLA soldiers march up and down, drilled to perform at 108 paces per minute!
Tiananmen Gate sits in the north; Monument to the Peoples Heroes sits at the center; the Great Hall of the People sits opposite the Museum of Chinese Revolutionary History and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall on the east and west; and Qian Men stands at the southern end of the Square.
Transportation: Taking passage on No.1 line subway and get off at the east or the west station of Tian' an men Square.
 Tian'anmen or The Gate of Heavenly Peace TOP
Tian'anmen, the main entrance to the Forbidden City, is a symbol of the nation and an image of China projected not just on banknotes, coins and stamps, but worldwide. When the gate was first built in the 15th Century, it had five gateways and was the main door to the imperial city. Until 1911, and the overthrow of the Ming and Qing dynasties, this was the entrance to the "forbidden area" for ordinary people and only imperial families and aristocrats were permitted to go through the gate. The most important function of the Gate Tower was to provide a platform for great ceremonies- the enthronement of an emperor or Mao's proclamation of the Peoples Republic of China. And it's the huge portrait of Mao (one of the few remaining on public display) which most Chinese flock to. The portrait is surrounded by two slogans. On the left, the motto "Long Live the People's Republic of China", to the right, "Long Live the Great Union between the Peoples of the World". Today, you can climb up the Gate Tower (RMB 30 for foreigners and RMB 10 for Chinese) and view Tian'anmen Square itself
Situated in the south of the Square, Qianmen is one of the original nine city gates and was the front door to the inner city. It was first built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty. Now that the city walls have disappeared, it jars slightly against its surrounds, but gives a good overview of the square. The gate is 33 metres high, and directly faces the Gate of Heavenly Peace. (Open daily 9am to 4:30pm).
Entrance fee: RMB15 (While RMB5 for student ticket).
Points for attention: You'd need to leave any bags you have at the checkroom when mounting the Gate of Heavenly Peace.
Transportation: By underground No.1, Bus No.52 and No.57 or Double Decker Bus No.1 can get you there.Then by Bus No.7, No. 17, BaiLibao 101,No.48, 48-332 Union Transportation, and Bus No.53,54,59,66,120,337,726,808,826, then Double Decker Bus No.2 and No.4, etc. which could get you to the Front Gate.(Qianmen)
 The Monument to the Peoples Heroes, The Great Hall of the People, The Mao Memorial Hall and the Museums TOP
Standing in the middle of the Square, and occupying more than 3000 square meters, is the Monument to the People's Heroes. The 36 metre high monument is made from Qingdao granite with relief sculptures depicting modern Chinese history, and surrounded by two marble rails.
Built in 1977, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is situated in the south of the square. The Memorial is divided into three parts, the Northern Hall, the Hall for Paying Respects, and the Southern Hall, all decorated with flowers from throughout the country. The body of Chairman Mao is in the Hall of Paying Respects and Mao's corpse is draped with a red flag. The corpse itself is frozen every evening and then mechanically raised every morning. As such, it has a very unrealistic appearance, resembling a plastic or wax mannequin. The main interest in a visit to the memorial is in experiencing the atmosphere, and the reverence that the Chinese hold for the Memorial. Once you've been herded through the Hall, you'll be greeted by an amazing array of tacky Mao souvenirs.
Opening time: 8:30-11:30am from Tuesday to Sunday, 14:00-16:00 from Tuesday to Thursday. Note though, that it is only opened in the morning during July and August.
Points for attention:You need to leave all bags at the checkroom before entering the hall. You need to do this before joining the queue outside the Memorial Hall. It is necessary to keep solemn and quiet when paying your respects to the remains of Chairman Mao.
The Great Hall of the People Standing to the west of the Square, is the real political hub of Beijing and home to the National People's Congress. This enormous building is open to the public when Congress is not in session. Visitors are shown a selection of rooms, many of these are named after provinces and regions in China and decorated accordingly. The most impressive room is the 5,000 seater banquet hall. If you do take a look in here, you'll be following in the footsteps of the rich and famous. The guest list includes Mikhail Gorbachev, (who had to enter through the back door to avoid demonstrators), Margaret Thatcher (who tripped and fell on her way in), and Richard Nixon (who made it in safe!).
Entrance Fee: RMB15 (while RMB5 if you have student's identity card)
Opening time: 8:00-11:30, 14:00-17:00
Points for attention: It is necessary to leave your bags at the checkroom when entering.
In the east of the square and opposite the Great Hall of the People are two museums housed in the same building: the Museum of Chinese History, covering the period up to 1919, and the Museum of the Revolution. The Museum of Chinese History is worth a visit, even though there are no English captions. There is some interesting stuff there waiting to be discovered! The building itself was voted one of the top ten buildings in China in the 1950s.
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 8.30am-3.30pm.
How to get there: Bus No. 1, 2,4,5,9,10,22,44; trolley bus No. 110,116 and the metro all take you direct. |
Summer Palace
Originally known as the "Garden of Clear Ripples", the Summer Palace(Yiheyuan) is a magnificent imperial garden located 12 km north-west of Beijing City. This is the largest ancient preserved garden in China and a former summer retreat for Emperors and the  chosen few! The site includes more than 100 ancient style pavilions, mansions,? towers, halls, temples, bridges and an enormous clear water lake. What is most enjoyable about the Summer Palace however, is that it is simply a gorgeous place to relax, escape the smoke and crowds of the city and spend an afternoon walking. That said however, one could just as easily spend one week out here as one afternoon! Given the sheer size of the place (occupying an area of 290 acres) the Summer Palace is as vast as it is spectacular. This is great though, as it means you get the rare chance in Beijing, to lose the crowds and clear the cobwebs from your mind!
The original Palace and grounds were destroyed by the allied forces of Great Britain and France in 1860. However, the Empress Dowager Cixi liked the site so much that she used the funds for creating a modern navy, to reconstruct her favorite retreat! The Empress didn’t have much luck however, and the Palace and grounds were destroyed again in 1900. Two years later the palace was restored to the scale and design it is today. The Eastern Palace Gate is the main entrance to the Summer Palace and the arrival point where buses and taxis stop. The opening in the center used to be exclusively for the emperor and empress. Entrance today is RMB 45 and you can now walk through any of the openings in the gateway!
The Summer Palace includes many interesting and spectacular sites. For detailed information on what to see and do at the Palace, click below! It's best to spend at least an afternoon or morning here in order to really appreciate the beauty of the place and do it justice. There are also shops and various restaurants and tea-houses dotted about the Palace.
The Ticket Price: For common tickets,it is RMB20 in the off-season (Nov.1-Mar.31 of the coming year), while RMB30 in the peak season (April.1-Oct.31);For integrated tickets, it's RMB40 in the off-season, and RMB50 in the peak season, (which includes the admission tickets of the Theatre in the Garden of Virtuous Harmony, the Buddha Fragrance Pavilion and Suzhou Street).
Transportation: You can take bus No.301,303,330,332,331,346,362,374,375,904,905 to get there. In fact,the best means is to take the subway in the centre of Beijing and get off at Xizhimen station (not far away from Peking Zoo), then you can take a bus from there. In addition, you could also go by bicycle, which would take you one and a half or two hours approximately.
 The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City (Zijincheng)(also known as the Imperial Palace (Gugong) and the Palace Museum) is the largest and best preserved collection of ancient buildings in China. This site is an image of China relayed throughout the world on national days and at public events. Today, the Palace is filled with tourists but under the emperors, these "commoners" would have been executed had they dared to enter the complex! Given the popularity of the site, the Chinese government have invested a lot of time and money in the Palace and it is now a fantastic place to wander and dream of times gone by.
The entrance to the Palace is through Tian'anmen gate and via a long walkway. Once you reach Wumen (Meridian Gate) you enter the heart of the Complex and this is the place to buy your tickets and the fantastic audio guide featuring the voice of smooth talking Roger Moore. This gate is the main gateway to the Forbidden City. Mr. Moore provides a fascinating insight not only into the palace buildings and constructions but relays anecdotes about the emperors themselves. All this and Roger Moore whispering in your ear, for only RMB25!
Meridian Gate is the main gateway into the Forbidden City. There are five further gateways set in Meridian Gate but in fact, only three of these are clearly visible- its quite a feat to try and find the remaining two but give it a go!
After passing through Meridian gate, you enter a huge Palace courtyard. Hereafter, the complex is divided into two sections: the Inner Court or the living quarters, and the working area also known as the Outer Court. The Palace courtyard itself contains the "stream of golden water" and five bridges, all decorated with carved torches, traditional symbols of masculinity. The Outer court is guarded by a row of lions protecting the Gate of Supreme Harmony.
The Outer Court starts at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the greatest and largest of all the halls in the complex. This was the most important building for the emperor and the place where all official business was done. Ceremonies such as the enthronement of the Crown Prince, the Emperor's birthday, imperial marriage ceremonies, and the initiation of military expeditions all took place here. The Emperor would arrive at the Hall of Supreme Harmony amidst ceremonial music, drum-beating and firecrackers. He would then take his place on the throne and listen to a reading of congratulatory messages from his palace courtiers. Civil and military officials would all kneel before him proclaiming, "Long Live Your Majesty." The building itself is decorated with thousands of dragons, the traditional symbol of the Emperor’s power.
The Midway Hall of Harmony is a smaller hall where the emperor would prepare for the ceremonies to be held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The Midway hall was also used by the Emperor to examine agricultural instruments and discuss techniques. This was an important duty as the responsibility for a poor harvest fell largely on his shoulders.
The Inner Court begins at the Hall of Celestial Purity. The inner court was where the emperor, his concubines and Eunuchs lived. Approximately half of the six thousand people at the Imperial court were Eunuchs. Eunuchs were seen to improve the emperors position and ensured that his children were just that, HIS own! There were similar numbers of Concubines in the Palace. In this way, any aspiring courtiers or women who fancied they may rise up the social ladder a little were taken care of! The Emperor was definitely THE BOSS.
The Gate of Celestial Purity was where the emperor attended to state affairs. The Emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong attended to business here on a daily basis. After these three emperors died, standards fell and by the time the Qing dynasty came to power in 1644, corruption was rife.
During the Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty, the emperors lived in the Hall of Celestial Purity while the Empresses inhabited the Hall of Earthly Peace. The Hall of Union and Peace was the area where the emperor and empress could live together. In later periods, the Emperor and Empress moved to the Six West Palaces. The Emperor's choice of a son to succeed him is said to be kept in a secret box in the Hall of Celestial purity.
Legend has it that during the Ming Dynasty, two concubines tried to kill the Emperor with a rope. As they were very nervous, they accidentally tied a quick release knot. Another courtier watching brought help and the quick release knot was enough to save the Emperor from death. The women involved in the assassination plot were killed and their bodies dismembered and displayed as a lesson to any other would be troublemakers!
The Hall of Prolonged Happiness is known for the Western style crystal palace contained within the Hall. After the original Hall was destroyed by fire, the Emperor Xuntong began constructing a fireproof palace made from white marble and glass in its place. When the palace was half completed, the Qing Dynasty was overthrown and the project stopped.
South of here is the Yuqing Palace, the Palace for fasting. The Emperors were expected to fast the night before they offered sacrifices to Heaven. As a general rule, the emperors stayed here for the first two days of their fast and then moved to an imperial residence within the confines of the Temple of Heaven. During the fast the emperors abstained from wine, onions, garlic, chives, praying, involvement in petty affairs and making love. It must have been quite a task for them!
Emperor Qianlong built the Hall of Peaceful Longevity and made it into a Palace for the Emperor Dowager. Each year, on New Years day of the lunar calendar, the emperor would entertain ministers in this pavilion. Cups filled with wine would be placed on the water in the lake of the gardens. If the floating cup stopped in front of you, you were asked to drink the wine and make a poem!
The best way to approach a trip to the Forbidden City is to first examine it in detail, either with an audio tape or some reference and then to double back on yourself and just enjoy wandering and imagining what life must have been like there. In order to fully appreciate the majesty of the Forbidden City, try to allow at least half a day for the visit.
Transportation: You can take bus No.1,4,52,103,111 to get there.
Ticket Price: RMB40 in the off-season (from Nov.1 every year to Mar.31 the next year),while RMB60 in the peak season (from April.1 to Oct.31 every year). Students and soldiers could also enjoy half price by means of their appropriate identity cards.The entrance fee of the Treasures Hall and Watch Hall in the Palace Museum is RMB10 separately.
Opening Time: 8:30--16:30 from Oct.15 to Mar.31 of the coming year, while 8:30--17:00 from April.1 to Oct.14.
Latest time for purchasing tickets: 15:30 and 16:00 respectively.
Note: The prime area for sightseeing is the center area of the Imperial Palace,however if time permits, you could also have a walk and visit the west areas.Those who are fond of calligraphy should not miss enjoying the Hall of Three Rare Treasures of the West Warmth Chamber in the Hall of Mental Cultivation,there have been three famous copybooks enshrined in this hall.
 The Great Wall
The Great Wall (Changcheng), totaling more than 12,000 kilometers, is arguably the most famous image of China throughout the world. It is the only man made object visible from the moon, and as one of the Eight Wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China lives up to its reputation.
As the closest section of the wall to Beijing, Badaling is by far the most popular part of the site to visit and, perhaps for this reason some find it the most disappointing. The best time to visit is early morning, before the tour buses arrive. If you make it past the hoards and hustlers and make the climb itself, the views are quite spectacular. The Great Wall is a symbol of Chinese traditional culture and the pride of the Chinese nation. Its worth taking a hike and reflecting on this incredible feat of mankind.
Of course, if we take a look at history, the wall did not succeed in its main function; to keep out foreign invaders. Those who wanted to break through the fortifications all those years ago, found an alternative method. The Chinese Empire did not allow for human weakness. Attackers bribed their way past the wall where they had failed to break through with physical force.
Transportation: Take bus No.919 from DeShengmen station (one bus every 15 miniutes), and bus Tourist No.1 from the Front Gate (near bus No.17 station), and bus Tourist No.2 from the east road of Beijing Railway station( near bus No.103 terminus) or from the West Gate of the Museum of Chinese History. Also, take bus Tourist No.3 from DongDaqiao( near bus No.28 station),and bus Tourist No.4 from Peking Zoo station of XiZhimen or from the Apple Garden station, either take bus Tourist No.5 from the west Taxi station at the Front Gate, or bus Tourist No.8 from AnDingmen or Qianmen station, which all could get there directly.(The starting time of every Tourist bus is 6:30 in the morning), and all would take you about 40 minutes to arrive there.
The Entrance Fee: RMB45
On leaving the Forbidden City, follow in the footsteps of emperors, court ministers and eunuchs and head south to the magnificent and colorful Temple of Heaven (Tiantan). Although the bi-annual procession consisting of thousands of eunuchs and ministers no longer takes place, The Temple of Heaven and Tiantan park are still a delightful place to visit.
 The Temple was completed in 1420 and was originally a platform for the Son of Heaven (the emperor) to perform sacrifices and solemn rites. Among the gods worshiped were the god of earth, the god of water, the god of agric ulture (who has his own hall in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests), the god of the military, the god of religion and the god of civilians. Offering sacrifices was a serious task, as was atoning the sins of the people. The entire empire relied on the emperor for good fortune and abundant harvests so he had quite a responsibility! The Temple was opened to the public in 1912 and commoners who had previously been banned from even watching the bizarre procession pass through the city to Tiantan, were now permitted to visit the Temple themselves.
The Temple buildings and the parklands reflect ancient Chinese religious beliefs that imagine heaven as round and earth as square. Thus, the buildings in the temple are constructed on a central axis. The temples themselves are round and the bases square. Similarly, the Northern part of the park is a semicircular shape and the south, a square. In the south of the Temple complex are the Altar of Heaven and the Echo Wall. The parklands and the Temple are an exquisite place to spend some time, especially in the early morning. Drag yourself out of bed at dawn and watch the Taiji experts, kite flyers and dance fans strut their stuff.
The Ticket Price: RMB10 in the off-season( Nov.1-Mar.31 of the next year), RMB15 in the peak-season( Apr.1-Oct.31). Besides the entrance fee at the gate, you should spend RMB20 on the interior spots. The price for through ticket is RMB30 in the off-season, while RMB35 in the peak-season.
Opening Time: 8:30-18:30
Cuisine
 Beijing Roast Duck is an essential on any travellers menu when in Beijing. It has even been said that tourists visiting Beijing must do two things when in the area: see the Great Wall and taste Beijing Roast Duck.
There are many different ways to enjoy this sim ple dish. The duck is first sliced into thin pieces with either both skin and meat or skin and meat sliced separately. Then the meat is dipped into a lightly sweet and sour plum sauce, and along with finely cut spring onion or cucumber, wrapped in a thin pancake. Another way of eating this dish is to dip the meat into a mixture of soy sauce and crushed garlic or wrapping the meat in a Chinese style sesame pancake (shaobing). Typically, in keeping with Chinese frugality, the bones of the roast duck are cooked as a soup with cabbage and winter melon served at the end of the meal.
No matter which way you slice it, all meat-eaters must try this Beijing favorite before moving on to new destinations. Alas, the extremely health conscious may wish to avoid this dish as the meat is relatively fatty, but it is said that is what gives this dish its unique“flavor”. Why not judge for yourself?
Restaurants famous for their Beijing Roast Duck include Quanjude Restaurant and the Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant.
Hot Pot
Beijing winters can get very cold so "hot pot" is a natural favorite with local people. In recent years, Cantonese and Sichuan flavor hot pots have have grown in popularity, overtaking the more typical Beijing tradition of boiling thin slices of mutton in a seasoned broth (otherwise known as Mongolian hot pot). The basic ingredients of a hot pot meal include thinly sliced beef and mutton with fresh vegetables. In some styles, various types of sea food are added. Cantonese style hot pot has a relatively mild flavor in the broth used to boil the ingredients and in the condiments in which the meat and vegetables are dipped after having been cooked thoroughly. On the other hand, the Sichuan style hot pot is known for its wickedly hot, spicy flavor that may leave you with a slightly numb feeling on your tongue. Another hot pot trend is that many places now offer “self-service” hot pot where you can select your own hot pot ingredients, broth seasonings and condiments in an “all you can eat” setting. Try Donglaishun Restaurant for traditional Beijing "Mongolian hot pot".
Muslim dishes
Muslim dishes (typically of the Hui Minority) are a principal part of Beijing's culinary culture. Muslims from various parts of the Chinese nation have immigrated here and added their flavor to the mix that is modern Beijing. Perhaps the most famous example of Beijing's tradition of Muslim cuisine is the Donglaishun Restaurant. Chinese travelers are attracted to Beijing's Muslim culinary tradition as some dishes are especially suited to Chinese taste buds. The variety of Muslim dishes is great and navigating the choices might present a challenge for the foreign traveler. Nevertheless, do some sampling.
For foreign travelers, the food cooked by the Uighur peoples (Muslims from Xinjiang in Western China) has a special attraction. Their flat breads, various kinds of noodle dishes (including both flat cut noodles and long thin noodles), and mutton kebabs are especially tasty to Western tastebuds. This kind of street food is plentiful in Beijing and is becoming more popular throughout other Chinese cities. In Beijing, one of the strongest Uighur communities was originally in the Ganjiakou area on Baiwanzhuangxi Road in the Haidian District. The area has undergone some forced reconstruction and the Uighur community may have moved to the north-west. The exploration will be worth it for the adventurous traveler as sampling these Uighur specialties is quite a treat.
Imperial Dishes
The so-called “imperial dishes” of Beijing are recipes that originated from the foods served to emperors and their myriad wives throughout the Qing Dynasty. These dishes are have an air of royalty and are regarded by some as the greatest delicacies in China. These rare and complicated recipes produce dishes that are said by the Chinese to be “light, fresh, fragrant & tender”. The master chefs of restaurants like Fangshan Restaurant, one of the most authentic “imperial style” restaurants, have passed their craft down through the generations. In the “imperial style” restaurants of Beijing, you may eat what the emperors of the Qing Dynasty ate. The decor and furnishings in these restaurants is also palatial, unique and luxurious.
Imperial Pastries and Snacks
There are many kinds of pastries and snacks that have been passed down by the “imperial” style restaurants of Beijing. They have been known throughout history as pastries and snacks that were reserved solely for the imperial elite. Here is a roughly translated list of some examples: bean rolls, pea flour cakes, small steamed corn bread and sesame cakes stuffed with minced pork.
Shopping
As one of the historic capitals of China, Beijing has long been an attractive place for skilled craftsmen to come and seek patronage. For this reason, it is possible to find some of the best examples of Chinese craftsmanship in this city. The so-called "4 famous characters" of handicrafts: cloisonné, ivory carvings, jade objects, and carved lacquer ware are prime examples. Other enticing art pieces and cultural items include the "4 treasures" of Chinese scholarly tradition (the Chinese writing brush, ink sticks, ink wells, and paper), Chinese calligraphy and paintings, silk embroidery, jewelry and stone chops carved with one's name (another symbol of the Chinese scholarly tradition). For those travelers who prefer folk handicrafts, traditional figurines made from clay, dough or silk, colorful kites and paper-cuts are fascinating pieces to add to any collection. Similarly, many travelers buy Chinese musical instruments to play or just as ornaments. In recent years, traditional Chinese furniture and antique furniture have become more popular and fashionable.
Beyond the traditional, since China opened its doors to the outside world, many large modern department stores and shopping centers have appeared in Beijing. World famous international brands have also settled down here. Read about the major shopping areas in Beijing below or search our shopping index for shopping centers and other options.
Some of the main shopping areas in Beijing are the following:Qianmen Street,Wangfujing Street,Xidan Commercial Street,Liulichang Culture Street,and Silk Alley.
Qianmen StreetTOP
Qianmen Street has been a commercial area for centuries, overflowing with many traditional shops including Chinese medicine shops, silk shops, tea shops, and also some Chinese snack shops, such as Duyichu. Duyichu is famous for its steamed "shaomai", which are wrappers filled with meat-flavored sticky rice. Beyond the traditional, the Qianmen Street area has some of the largest department stores in Beijing, including Xinxin Clothing Store, the largest clothing store in Beijing. Qianmen offers a good range of shopping options such as the Dazhalan No.1 and No.2 Department Stores, as well as the Ladies' Goods Store and the Children's Goods Stores. Before you leave the Qianmen area, be sure to enjoy the show at the Laoshe Teahouse, inspired by the novel Teahouse, by the author Laoshe.
Wangfujing Street TOP
Wangfujing is one of the most bustling sections of Beijing and is a favorite shopping destination. Here you will find all manner of goods for sale, from watches to fine clothing, and modern electronics to Chinese antiques. For the foreign traveler, the Foreign Language Bookstore might be of special interest, as they carry many novels in various western languages and also various Chinese language study books.
On Wangfujing Street itself, one can also find many good places to get a bite to eat, including a Dunkin' Donuts and one of the largest McDonald's in China. Of course, there are also places for Chinese food, such as places for Beijing Roast Duck. All in all Wangfujing is a great place to get out there and shop!
Xidan Commercial StreetTOP
Xidan is a prosperous retail and commercial street that has developed mostly as a result of the fierce competition that followed economic reforms. The famous Xidan Department Store, the Xidan Shopping Center, the Xiangyun Chinese Fine Goods Store, a street market and a gorgeous flower market are all found here. Like other shopping districts in the city, Xidan is a mixture of both new and old stores, offering a wide range of goods for your shopping convenience. Xidan's street market comes alive at night and is a good place to pick up some bargains. The Beijing Subway has a station at Xidan.
Liulichang Culture Street TOP
Originally, Liulichang was known as a street for antique dealers, where the great families of Beijing might go to sell their heirlooms to get through hard times. Now famous for the sale of Chinese cultural items, Liulichang Street attracts tourists and customers from all over China and the world. The area consists of about 100 shops dealing in traditional antiques, crafts, rugs, tapestries, art and other cultural objects. Even traditional Chinese lanterns can be found in this culturally-rich shopping district. For those who like beautiful things, look for cloisonné (jintailan), jewelry, and jade objects. For those who are interested in the more literary side of Chinese history, the "4 treasures" of Chinese scholarly tradition (the Chinese writing brush, ink sticks, ink wells, and paper) as well as all kinds of Chinese calligraphy and painting can be found here. The more musically oriented traveler may be interested in purchasing a traditional Chinese musical instrument. All in all, Liulichang is an excellent place to do some shopping for all things culturally Chinese. Nevertheless, watch out for the high prices. Local shop owners know their products are in high demand and some haggling might be required.
Silk Alley TOP
In the neighborhood around the US Embassy in the Jianguomenwai area, Silk Alley is a fantastic place to practice your haggling skills. There you will find alley after alley of stalls selling a variety of goods. Besides the Chairman Mao cigarette lighters and great souvenir stuff, the best thing to buy here is clothing. Cotton, silk, thick coats, and leather goods are especially plentiful. In fact, for the able bargainer, Silk Alley is paradise. Go prepared and ready to bargain.
Tip
Haggling tip #1: Whatever price they say, ask for 50 to 60% of that price and stick to it!
Haggling tip #2: Always be ready to walk away from a stall if their price doesn't come down or you feel the price is too high. They may well break down and give you the price you demanded. |
