Shopping · Beijing · China
Shopping in Beijing
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Beijing shopping covers weekend antique markets, historic shops on Dashilar, malls in Sanlitun and Guomao, and silk and pearl markets geared to visitors where bargaining is expected. Best souvenirs: Calligraphy supplies, Cloth shoes and Tea.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Calligraphy supplies
Where to shop
Wangfujing
Department stores, bookshops and long-established brand shops on the pedestrian street.
Dashilar and Qianmen
Century-old shops selling tea, silk, cloth shoes and traditional medicine.
Taikoo Li Sanlitun
International fashion and design brands in a modern open-air complex.
Liulichang
A street of calligraphy brushes, ink, paper and art supplies near Dashilar.
Markets
Panjiayuan Antique Market
Weekend stalls of curios, ceramics, books and reproductions; most items are replicas, so bargain hard.
Silk Street
A multi-floor market of clothes, silk, bags and tailoring aimed at visitors; start bargaining far below the asking price.
What to buy
Calligraphy supplies
Brushes, inkstones and rice paper from the shops on Liulichang.
Cloth shoes
Hand-stitched traditional cotton shoes from old Dashilar shops.
Tea
Jasmine tea, a Beijing favourite, sold by weight in tea shops.
Cloisonné
Enamelled metalware, a Beijing craft tradition, from vases to small boxes.
Palace Museum design goods
Stationery and gifts inspired by the Forbidden City's collections from the museum's own shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Candied hawthorn, Fermented bean drink, Beijing yoghurt and Erguotou. Street sellers around hutong lanes, temple fairs and snack streets in winter. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Wangfujing and Dongcheng | $$$ | Shopping street and hotels a walk east of the Forbidden City |
| Qianmen and Dashilar | $$ | Old shopping lanes and hutongs just south of Tiananmen Square |
| Gulou and Nanluoguxiang | $$ | Hutong lanes, cafés and small bars below the Drum Tower |
| Sanlitun | $$$$ | Embassy district with malls, restaurants and the city's main bar scene |
| Guomao (CBD) | $$$$ | Skyscrapers and luxury hotels in the central business district |
| Wudaokou (Haidian) | $ | University district near Tsinghua and Peking universities |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in CNY. Tipping is not customary in restaurants or taxis. Hotels and upmarket restaurants may add a 10–15% service charge; tipping private guides and drivers on day tours is appreciated.
- Eat at local dumpling and noodle shops; a filling meal costs a fraction of a hotel restaurant.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in March and November–January; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- January: Lunar New Year temple fairs (late January or February)
- February: Spring Festival temple fairs in Ditan and Longtan parks (around Lunar New Year)
- February: Lantern Festival (15th day of the lunar new year)
- April: Beijing International Film Festival (usually April)
- April: Qingming Festival holiday (early April)
- June: Dragon Boat Festival (late May or June)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, shopping and luxury
Wangfujing and Dongcheng
Shopping street and hotels a walk east of the Forbidden City
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Beijing?
Calligraphy supplies, Cloth shoes, Tea and Cloisonné.
+Where is the best shopping in Beijing?
Wangfujing: Department stores, bookshops and long-established brand shops on the pedestrian street.
+What are the best markets in Beijing?
Panjiayuan Antique Market and Silk Street.