brillinat shopping for the bargin hunter and tresure hunter (Shopping in Beijing)

Member Name: ellesmellycat

Product:	Shopping in Beijing
Date:	18/05/09 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap and loads of fun hagglng

Disadvantages: chaotic

The main shopping area for shops in Beijing is Xi Dan, its near the main station and is a series of large shopping centers. The road in between the shops and the station is huge, so look out for the many subways and bridges. This is the type of western shopping center that you'll find in the UK, slightly more chaotic and no recognizable shop names. Be ware people trying to get you to come in to their shops they follow you around and can be really annoying.

I'm not sure the Dior jacket I got for £18 is real but it's very warm and unfortunately the bag i got broke on the way home! The Chinese wall hanging I get here were amazing and so cheap, I was able to buy loads more then I thought I could.

I had no problems using my credit card in any of the shops here, there were cash points and if you;re missing home an irish pub and western coffee shop(but its still £2 for a coffee).


The other area best for shopping is Hong Qiao Market in the south of Beijing, get a bus or a taxi (again the roads are crazy) and it will be quite hard to find on your own. This is a huge indoor market, each floor has areas filled with loads of stall selling the same stuff. each stall will have very similar items on them, so get the price from one and then walk away, they will drop their price immediately. Haggling is a must! It full of stalls selling shoes; bags; ties; trinkets; cufflinks; cds; sunglasses and hats all stuff that easy to get into your bags home. Cash only here, very busy and watch you bags!

Remember to find out what your shoe size is in American and European it will make shopping a lot quicker

..and I would take big bags to China, the shopping is great!

Summary: wish I'd taken bigger bags