Jewelry shopping in Beijing is limited to a few reputable specialty stores. However, markets should not be overlooked, particularly Hong Qiao for its pearls.

Beijing Arts And Crafts Center

(Beijing Gong Yi Meishu Fuwu Bu)

This Wangfujing store is one of the best places in town to buy jade - in all shapes and sizes. Also on offer is a good selection of amber jewelry.

Tel: 8610-6523-8747

Address: 200 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District

Gemlong Jewelry Company

Gemlong custom makes your jewelry.

Tel: 8610-6587-1888

Address 1: Full Link Plaza, 1st floor

Tel: 6525-1888

Address 2: No. 99 Wangfujing, Beijing One World Dept. Store, 1st Floor

Tel: 6505-5371

Address 3: China World Trade Center (Guo Mao) Basement

Tel: 6554-4073

Address 4: Main office, A506 Fuhua Mansion, 8 Chaoyangmen Bei Lu

Dragon House

This high-class shop specializes in jade and gold designs, and carries other precious stones as well. Some pieces are elegantly simple, and some are quite ornate. Restringing services are free, as are jewelry maintenance and adjustment, including welding, enlargement or reducing and cleaning.

Tel: 8610-6595-9796

Address 1: No. 17, Bldg 59, Dongdaqiao Rd, Chaoyang District

Tel: 8610-6437-6688

Address 2: 1/F Holiday Inn Lido

Tel: 8610-6465-3388 ext. 4532

Address 3: 1/F Holiday Inn Kempinski

Hong Qiao (Aka The Pearl Market)

Four floors of shopping madness, Hong Qiao is the great democratizer of Chinese shopping, drawing out all types of tourists and all types of locals, and uniting them together under one great consuming umbrella. Animate and inanimate foodstuffs can be found in the basement for local restaurateurs or for those who simply prefer to buy live crabs in bulk.

Hong Qiao has electronics, appliances (ground floor), fake namebrand purses (second floor), suitcases, shoes, jewelry, cloisonne, porcelain, jade, large and small Buddhas, teapots, and the illustrious and incomparable pearl market (third floor). Incredible deals can be had here, with a pair of real pearl earrings going for as little as 15 RMB.

Both Panjiayuan and Hong Qiao have their devotees - people who make a near-religious pilgrimage every week - just to keep abreast of the latest offerings. Once you’ve been you’ll understand why.

Tel: 8610-6711-7429, 6711-7499

Address: 16 Hong Qiao Lu (across from the east gate of the Temple of Heaven), Chongwen District.

Hours: 8:30am-7pm

Jewelry Street

(Zhubao yi tiao jie)

A dozen or so jewelers are concentrated in the area of Yangrou Hutong in Xisi, Xicheng District. Selling everyting from 24 karat gold work to diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, the Jewelry Street is aimed more at the wealthy local Chinese person than at the expatriate or tourist, but there are real bargains to be had for the sharp-eyed shopper.

Address: Yangrou Hutong, Xisi, Xicheng District (Just one lane south of Fuchengmen Nei Dajie).