Hongqiao Market (Pearl Market), Beijing

I thought of the three main market this one had the most shop keepers starting out with a reasonable price...... not like the silk market where they start of with some crazy price that no one would pay and you have to fight to get it anywhere near a real price... here I had shopkeepers say..... 30 rmb for a shirt... of course I still went down some ... but way better than the first price in other places..... sure they are still making a hefty profit but for me it was a whole lot better than the first high bs price , the walk away, the yelling etc...
I didnt ever try to buy actual pearls though just the t shirts and i phone covers etc
Even the toy shop behind the place seemed very reasonable.

Ok, this market is good and large, but it's bit, not by much but a bit more expensive than the silk market, and less crowded, and the quality here is a bit better. but no matter what don't pay the first price they offer you, keep a price in your mind that you want to pay and stick to it..... the vendor's aren't as aggressive as in the silk market so it makes it for a bit less stressful environment !!!!!

Market stall where you can buy without all the worries
A corner stall without too much merchandise, but with an amazing saleswoman named ACHO.
The first floor entrance from the eastern front.

What to buy: Can obtaine all electrical appliances in the shop without all the pressure
Even if the desired product is not at the stand ACHO wiil detect it for you.

What to pay: Always the most fair price, you can get at the stalls in the store after hours of bargaining

The shop assistants may not speak English well but the owner, Ms. Hong Fei, speaks English very well. They will not even try to sell you everything like in some shops. You can take your time and they will even "personalize" your pieces. The owner knows what to do with the pearls and is very efficient in mounting them or putting them together. You need not bargain hard because the shop owner does not overprice. Free bottled water while waiting.

What to buy: Fresh water pearls, seawater pearls, Southsea pearls, Tahiti pearls, Mabe pearls

What to pay: Check around first. I recommend you visit the shops on the 2nd floor and then you go to the 3rd floor to compare prices and consider buying.

I had to select 'other' on the 'type of shop' list because it has EVERYTHING you could possibly yearn for...truly! From the outside it is a very plain looking building but when you enter, oh goodness, you can just TELL that you're not going to be able to leave for another three hours at least! I was in there last week with two friends new to Beijing and we literally spent HOURS walking round this place! It has three levels all full of heavenly goodies waiting to be snapped up! Unfortunately you have to bargain here and when I say bargain, I don't mean just go down a couple of ten kuai, I'm talking about going down over a third of the price that they originally asked for! Its tough work sometimes, but its well worth it in the end when you part with just 20kuai for a bag instead of the 85 they were asking for!

What to buy: The ground level floor is all electronic gadgets....a wonderful place for all you hi-tech geeks out here! From dvd players, to speakers, mini disc players, mp3 players cameras, camcorders, batteries, portable tvs, headphones to mobile phone covers and I'm sure there's still lots I missed out on! And that's just the first section of the ground floor. The second part is girly things like hair accessories, wigs, jewellery and then moving onto lighters in all shapes and sizes, and then onto the best part which all stuff Chinese! By this I mean cushion covers, bags, wallets, phone covers, boxes, runners for tables, table cloths, place mats, chopsticks sets, coasters ALL in beautiful colours with Chinese details and designs. Seriously every colour under the sun! Something for everyone. Its a great place to get Christmas and birthday presents for! The only problem is I think I've sent everything like that to my friends already.....now what?!
Moving onto the next floor you'll be surrounded by fake Gucci, Prada, Fendi and Louis Vuitton bags, purses and shoes....again..a good few hours could be spent here! And then the top floor is where you'll find the pearl paradise.All different shapes, sizes and colours! Things can be made for you on the spot, but again, remember to bargain! On this floor you will also find lots of arts and crafts. Perfect presents!

What to pay: As I said earlier....you HAVE to bargain here and don't be fooled by the 'we are good friends' rubbish or the 'you speak good Chinese' because its just a ploy for you to like them and then you feeling bad about haggling the price down so much! Once you've been here long enough you know all the prices and they hate you coming back tot their shop with your friends as they know they wont be able to rip them off! Ha ha!

Entering Hongqiao market is perhaps one of the wisest decisions you can make in Beijing. I went there 3 times during my stay in Beijing and did not regret a single time.

For a foreigner, perhaps the biggest impediment in China is language, but in Hongqiao, just about every salesperson is fluent in English. According to my observation, shoppers from the western world are not so lucky in bargaining, as Asians are.

I especially loved the numerous shops in the basement and on the ground floor. It's real fun to be dragged inside a shop by cute girls.. :) ... and it becomes virtually impossible to leave without buying anything.

The price quoted initially by the salesgirls is totally meaningless. In most cases, you should target at 10% of the quoted price. Trust me ... it is not difficult at all.

What to buy: There are shops of all kinds in that building. Except for the mobile phones, I found other shops attractive.

Although, this building is not a specialty market for electronics, yet you can buy small electronic gadgets ...

Sports shoes are a special item that you should focus on. Fake brands are everywhere, and it is upto you to make a decision whether to buy a real chinese brand or a fake brand.

What to pay: Focus on 10% rule.. you wont regret it.

Behind Hongqiao market (to the right hand side) you go down a small road and there is a diagonal large door (people will be walking in and out) this is another market in which you can buy stationary, toys, PSP, play-stations etc...

What to pay: For cheap toys pay approx less than 50RMB

Hongqiao Market (Pearl Market) is located very close to the Temple of Heaven Park. You can buy anything there... electronic equipments, clothes, shoes, jewellery, sunglasses... you name it - they got it...

I cannot tell you what price is the right one - but it's not the first you're told. Walk away from the shop, come back later, bargain - you know what to do...

In the basement floor there is a big fish and food market. You might see some strange things there.

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Here you can buy anything and everything you need. Just remember to bargain a LOT. they will start at 500 and close at 20 .But smile all the time and remember,for you it may be only a few yuan, but for them it is a livelihood.
shop till you drop.

The Hongqiao Market can be a trouble. I was looking to buy a Pair of Nike Dunks for my friend in Australia but I knew they wouldnt fit in my luggage RIGHT AFTER I told the clerk i was leaving to get money. Any who i went back on that floor and she eyed me, ACTUALLY eyed from one side of the floor to the other grabbed the shoes, and started sprinting her heart out at me, I quickly jumped back down the elevator and looked at the electronics.
This place is great!
It actually is, besides the tacky ipods and belt buckles it was heaven.
Any Pearls, Shoes and Bags you wanted you could get!!!

What to buy: Pearls are a must but people told they can reach a certain price.
Video Games, Cameras, Phones and Ipods are all here, but if you want an Ipod, buy a REAL Ipod i bought one and it Broke the second i landed in Sydney Airport.
Watches are everywhere in China and you will get any watch you want; even though if some have IIIII as V in roman numerals!!
Belts and Beltbuckles where a surprise to me, with many stores selling them (Floor 2)
Bags: Just like watches, everywhere. From Louis Vitton to Chanel to Nike you want it you get it.

What to pay: Video Games: Ranges from 1 - 20 dollars.
Cameras: Depends on Quality usually around 100 - 200
Phones: Extremely Cheap, getting an Iphone (you can check if quality) will set you back 120 aus
Ipods: Well 4gbs are around 60 - 100 AU and Real 100 - 150 for 8gb
Bags: Hardest to Bargain Down; 20aus
Watches: Also Hard; 10-30aus
Shoes: The best and easiest. A clerk on Level Two offered 950Y for a pair of nike dunks,
with some mild haggling got two pairs of different dunks for 130Y
For Shoes, this is defiantly the place to go!