Shopping in Beijing

As you would expect from a metropolitan city, Beijing has no shortage of mega shopping malls, but the city is also home to time-honored shops such as the silk retailer Rui Fu Xiang.

Key areas

The main tourist shopping area is pedestrianised Wangfujing Street, crammed with brand outlets and department stores. Sanlitun Bar Street, Taikoo Li Sanlitun and Qianmen Street are all popular shopping areas in Beijing.

Markets

Housed in a giant warehouse-style mall, the Beijing Silk Market (8 Xiushui East Street) is a tourist trap, but its fine tailor-made clothes are worth the hard bargaining.

Collectors of antiques should head to Liulichang Street, a few minutes' walk south of Hepingmen subway station. This Beijing market is crammed with ancient-style shops, reconstructed in a traditional way and stocking antiques - some are genuine, though many are reproduced - and curios.

The open-air Panjiayuan Flea Market has great bargains on items such as jade, wood panelling, pottery and memorabilia.

Shopping centres

The vast malls within the Oriental Plaza, on Wangfujing Street, have over 300 brand stores and restaurants, as does the China World Shopping Mall, Shin Kong Place (SKP Beijing), and The Place which all cater to those with upscale-brand obsessions and large wallets.

Opening hours

Most shops in Beijing are open daily 1000-2200.

Tax information

The VAT rate is 17% (13% for certain goods). Foreign visitors can enjoy tax refund on the same day in designated stores if the velue is over RMB500.