Beijing Shopping
Beijing has long been a centre of trade. Today, it boasts over 13,000 stores spread across the city, offering anything from original Chinese handicrafts to international designer fashion. Wangfujing Street is among the most popular shopping miles in town. It is home to new, shiny shopping malls and department stores selling trendy, expensive brand-name goods. Shoppers here will also find foreign language book stores, some arts and crafts shops as well as restaurants. Qianmen Street is one of oldest shopping streets of its kind in Beijing. It is home to many old shops selling traditional Chinese goods such as fine teas, soft silk and cotton fabrics and shoes. Liulichang Street is great for antiquities and has been a long-time favourite among scholars and calligraphers. Shops here are selling ink sticks, ink paste and other cultural goods, as well as some jewellery. If you think about taking up calligraphy, the sophisticated Chinese writing art, pay a visit to one of the stores on Liulichang to choose the most suitable equipment. Another popular option for clothes is Xiushui Street, where both tourists and locals are hunting for bargain fabrics in all shapes and colours. Sanlitun Street, meanwhile, has witnessed the emergence of new and trendy designer shops. Finally, if all this shopping makes you hungry, make sure you pay a visit to Hongqiao Market at Tiantan Donglu in the Chongwen district. There is a good wet market offering a wide range of seafood and fresh fish, including lobster and crabs, and features more exotic specialities such as snail meat.
Oriental Plaza
Beijing's top shopping centre boasts 120,000 square metres of shops in a modern ambiance. It is home to well-known Western and Asian brands and houses a Sony Science Museum and a cinema.
Address: 1 Dongchang'an Jie
Subway: Wangfujing
Phone: +86 (0)10 8518 8888
China World Shopping Centre
A premier choice for the city's well-off with all the famous designer brands from Christian Dior to Gucci.
Address: 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie
Subway: Guomao
Ten Fu's Tea
This chain sells high-quality tea from across the region. The friendly staff brews small cups of tea for customers to sample.
Address: 65 Liulichang Dongjie
Subway: Hepingmen
Ruifuxiang
This traditional textile shop has been around for more than 110 years and sells hundreds of cotton, wool and silk textiles.
Address: 5 Dazhalan Xijie
Phone: +86 (0)10 6525 0764
Arts And Crafts World Mansion
This large store sells pretty much any art or craft souvenir you can think of: paintings, wood carvings, pottery, porcelain lamps, jade and much more.
Address: 200 Wangfujing Lu
Phone: +86(0)10 6528 8866