Most people know about Silk Street and Yashow markets. Row after row of little shops selling what seems to be the exact same thing. My opinion: don’t go there. It’s the typical cheap, knock-off, overpriced (very overpriced) stuff for tourists. There are other more interesting markets in Beijing. This is sort of a massive post covering so many different things, but hang in there.
Eyeglasses Market Panjiayuan
Located just north of the Panjiayuan subway stop on Line 10 is a multi-story building with a large pair of eyeglasses on the front. Inside you’ll find dozens of shops with a ton of frames. Most of the shops can do quick eye exams to determine your prescription or you can give them your current glasses and they can figure it out. Most frames are in the ¥200-¥400 range.
Fabric Market
If you’ve ever wondered whether any of the name brand clothes you find in other markets are real, a trip to the fabric market will convince you that EVERYTHING is fake. In addition to reams and reams of fabric in every style and color, you can buy rolls of tags and boxes of buttons for Louis Vitton, GAP, Levis or any other brand you want.
Dongjiao Restaurant Supply Market at Dawanglu
Dongjiao has just about everything. You can get large pieces of equipment, cleaning supplies, to-go boxes, silver and plate ware, plus tons of typical China-market stuff (clothes, office supplies, shoes, etc). They also have a wholesale alcohol section and a coffee section.
Wool Spinning City Market
Lots and lots of yarn and wool fabric. My mom is a big knitter and this is the place in Beijing she goes to stock up.
Electronics Market Zhongguancun
Most people know about Zhongguancun. This is not necessarily the place to go to get your high end computer or really nice name brand electronics. Buy those at a store that has a warranty program. Go to Zhongguancun to buy cute USB drives in the shape of Star Wars characters or to get another external harddrive.
258 Electronics
A much much smaller electronics market near the west gate of Chaoyang park. I have an Xbox guy and an iPhone guy there. They also have a bunch of semi-trendy clothes shops on the 3rd floor.
Pearl Market
This is the “tourist” market that I send my friends to. A bit less intense than the Pearl Market and Yashow and they have a better selection of trinkets and China memorabilia. Also, pearls.
The Toy Market
Right behind the Pearl Market is a building with 4 floors of toys, costumes and games.
The Zoo Market
Rumors are, the Zoo Market is the place “real” Beijingers go for clothes. It had a reputation for having a larger selection for cheaper prices, but I’ve heard that the selection of interesting stuff has gone down. Still it’s a massive market with tons of clothing.
WangJing Art Market
Located directly across the street from the Central Academy of Fine Arts. The WangJing art market is three floors of paints, pencils, canvases, art books, craft supplies, and anything else you would need to scratch your creative itch.
Xinjiekou Guitar Street
Head one block north from the Ping An Li subway station. Xinjiekou Guitar street is probable two dozen music shops on both sides of the street. Most of the instruments are cheap Chinese versions of popular American models, but you can definitely find a pretty good sounding guitar if you bring someone that knows what they are looking for.
Wukesong
Camera City
Lots of cameras, lenses, tripods and wedding photographers. The place to go if you’ve got the photo bug.
Sanyuanli Food Market
A random market near Liangmaqiao that is sort of a typical Chinese food market, but they also carry a bunch of bulk foreign food items.
WangJing Hardware Market
There are a bunch of these types of markets around Beijing, but this is the one I know about. Next to WangJing west metro station. The hardware market has paint, furniture, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, tools , lumber, and other hardware.
