Hongqiao Market (Pearl Market), Beijing

Hongqiao is a Beijing shopping favourite, not because it is relaxed but because it has just about anything you could possibly want. However, with the recent crackdown on fake branded products, many of these are carried under the counter.
Hongqiao is known for its pearls and there are plenty of pearl shops here: do remember that these are freshwater pearls though, which are a lower quality than saltwater pearls!
Although the ground floor (and the basement fish stalls) are a seething mass of people al day every day, the crowds get less as you go higher up. There are some classy shops on the upper floors.
Note that several buildings nearby are now part of an 'extended' Hongqiao and you may get better bargains there.
There is a shop around the corner (actually behind the main Hongqiao - entrance where the car-park ramp comes out) which has vast amounts of toys, electronic games, sports goods and stationery.

What to buy: You name it, they have it. There are some nice silk tablecloths and napkins on the ground floor.
Hongqiao is also good for binoculars.

What to pay: If you behave like a ditzy tourist, you will pay ditzy tourist prices. The trick is to know the going China rate for things, which is difficult to know unless you live here. Push hard, and walk away at least once.

Name Pearl Market is somehow misleading. This big market offers everything, from pocket knifes, copy watches, sports wear, bags, shoes to actual jewelry.
It is somehow chaotic – but so is every market in China (the ones locals visit are even harder to pick through). On ground floor you can find some electronics, basic photo equipment, copy watches and other small stuff (pocket knives, thermos for tea…). On second floor they have shoes, women’s and men’s clothes, bags and some sporting goods – remember when bargaining - they are all fakes! At the top of the store they keep pearls, other jewelry and souvenirs (lamps, stamps, coins, kites, silk craft…).

What to buy: You can make the best deal buying pearls and copy watches (they are really cheap here, if you know how to bargain).
For other stuff you can make a better deal on other more local markets.

What to pay: Allways BARGAIN. As low as I could get:
better (fake nike, addidas...) shoes - 50/60 RMB
fake bags - 40 RMB
men's T shirts - 30 RMB
women's shirts - 10/30 RMB
pearls - 6 RMB for the small necklace, 30 RMB for a string of pearls
copy watches (rolex, brightling) - 120 RMB
copy watches (CK, DKNY, Gucci) - 30/50 RMB

Remember, they will start with the skyhigh prices - don't get discouraged - BARGAIN!

Wanted to get a pair of shoes. Asked for the price. It was 780 yuan. I was stunned. That's the price I'm paying at a shopping centre at Orchard Road in Singapore. I turned and wanted to leave. Jerome asked for 80 yuan. I looked at him in disbelief, it's too much to bargain for. I thought he was trying his luck. We were leaving when the saleslady quickly stopped us and gave us the price that he asked for!

It was simply too amazing! From 780 yuan to 80 yuan! I've a bargaining master on my side. :)

What to pay: Just don't think that you have got a good deal when you've managed to half the price.

Another fleamarket with almost of everything... including pearls.

A great variety of fakes and also souvenirs. You find also cheap electronics.

It worths to visit at least one of these markets in Beijing.

What to pay: Bargain always! Normally prices are to be 30-40% of the asked ones.

What to buy: Many of the stalls in the Honqqui Market (the Pearl market is on the second floor here) have kites for sale. Great things to bring home for the children or yourself, if, like me, you are a big boy!
More fancy kites can probably be bought at specialist kite shops, but I have never searched for them. On Tienanmen square you will be accosted by kite flyers that want you to buy their kites. Some of the kites look really good, so why not, but bargain hard.

What to pay: The cost less than 50Y for the smaller ones and up.

It's another market I like , but mainly for pearl shopping . This is a 3-4 story building right in front of Tian Tan park, quite central located.
They have also those stuff as YA XIU has. Some antique also good here but a bit expensive.
They have extremely nice girls selling pearl , most of them are bilingual or multilingual . No worry for the language when bargain.
The worst is to get help by calculator!

My boss said we will have good business if our sales staff are as good as these girls!

What to buy: Pearl is the speciality of this market. These are sweet water pear from southern China provinces. These girls are very skillful and doing things very quick. They can re-make the pear necklace/bracelet as the design you like. Just tell them what you want!
The qulity is not bad general speaking, people like to bring them back to their country for the cheap price and not bad quality . It's the perfect gift from China!

The bargaining skill : reference to "YA XIU"