Silk Market, Beijing

A Chinese bazaar

What to buy: Counterfeit clothes and sneakers
Chinese souvenirs
Spectacles

What to pay: Chinese (but not hand-made) kites : 100 RMB for 4 units, after 20 minute bargaining
Handmade letter stamps with red ink: 100 RMB for 3
Chinese painted poster (size of a standard door): 50 RMB
Wind-proof gloves - 50 RMB
Bonnets - around 20 RMB
Ears cover - 10 RMB
Jack Wolfskin wind/water-proof jacket - 300 RMB
Tailored shirts - 100 RMB each for standard model
Non tailored shirts - 40/50 RMB
Tailored suits - 1000 RMB on average
Shisha (Narguile, hooka) - 150 RMB for the biggest model
Small imported perfumed tobacco boxes - 20 RMB each
Coal - 10 RMB a small pack

The vendors are so numerous that it's very easy to bargain. Tell them your price (divide their 1st offer by 10 if you are not sure), stay firm, smile, be polite and frown a little bit, they'll eventually reach your price.

Indoor vendor flea market. Great buys. Be prepared to bargain like you never did before. Know what you want and what you are willing to pay. Beware- the are different qualities. note the differences before you leave the vendor.

What to buy: You can buy an fashion item you desire.

What to pay: 30% of original asking price seems about right. It wont be easy and it will take you 10 to 20 minutes.

Beijing is cheap,the Oz dollar was getting about 6RMB so the pound will get you more. There are plenty of markets to buy clothes, eg underwear $2 aud, GStar and other brand jeans etc $20 - $30 dollars at the silk markets and in the "new trendy area" of Beijing. If you plan on walking alot, get some vaseline for sweat chaffing. The subway is based on HK, so it is easy to get around and very cheap. Downtown backpackers do a tour of the great wall if you are interested, but be prepared for some hard yards!

What to buy: Clothes and Pearls [Lattter from Pearl Market]

ok, first of all don't ever take there offer for the first price they give you on anything !!!!! Cut them by at least 80% and stay firm. They give you a calculator and tell you to put in your best price...but in your best price and stay firm, start to walk away and they keep cutting the price and don't budge, stay on your price and eventually they get there......if you don't have the time just walk away......It's a bit frustrating because when you start to walk off, they grab you and cut the price in half but nowhere near the price you want to pay, so that gets old, until you get the price you said, example: I wanted some hats at first he told me 240 RMB for 1 hat...I told him 10 RMB for 1, I started to walk away 4 times before he settled on the 10 RMB for each hat. it took more than 10 minutes to get this done !!!! why because dumb people still pay through the roof for items that aren't worth it. and as long as the vendors could get away with it, they'll continue doing it !!!!!!

What to buy: You name it they have it there except the 2008 Olympics items, it seems the government has strict control on these items, and can only be bought at government stores !!!!!!

4th level of the Silk Market in Beijing offers a variety of jewelries. Abundance of pearls and other semi precious stones available. Bargaining is a must! Don't leave a store without at LEAST 50% discount.

What to buy: Pearls
Silver

What to pay: It all depends on your budget. I love shopping for myself and as presents to other people. Bring extra cash. I don't want to use my credit card - I don't feel safe.

Being to Beijing several times in the past, however, no-one has ever told me about this place until now. Most natives do not shop here as they are able to obtain cheaper goods elsewhere (fake brand also but cheaper and shoddier fakes).

Despite what some people say, the crackdown on counterfeit products have not stopped the flow of fake goods. Vendors openly display clothing with major brands (Polo, Armani, Tommi, etc.) and they are obviously simply branded (not "fakes" as they are not really copying anything). LV, Gucci, Fendi, etc. bags are hidden away, but shop keepers are more than happy to show you what they've got.

What to buy: For us guys, simply skip the upper floors and focus on the basement and lower floors for bags, clothing and shoes.

My bargaining is not great, but these are the prices I got, you should be able to do better:
Polo - 40RMB
Suits (Armani / D&G) - 300RMB
Shorts (G-star) - 70RMB

I was trying to get some quicksilver board-shorts, but I can't seem to get the price below 100RMB, so I skipped them, they might be real.

The suits are highly recommended! Quality is OK, but a bargain compared to what you'll get overseas.

What to pay: Go in the early morning (I think they open at 9). When the store is deserted, bargaining is a breeze. Likewise avoid the weekends, the vendors get extremely desperate when there are few shoppers in the building.

I won't going to purchase of the "good stuff", but lets just say that the starting price offered by shop keepers is even more ridiculous. Just bargain store to store, all the shops stock similar goods.

A great and fun time, is the Silk Street Mkt. Don't take it too seriosly as the girls here are the best. I have been in sales for over 25 years and would take them as sales agents!!! Always bargain, and never except the first 5 prices (this is for you only; don't tell others...).

Polo/Lacoste/Gant 25 - 35 RMB depending on quantaty
Pants/Jeans - 35 - 45 RMB
Shoes - be aware that most of them are not leather (the lighter trick does not work)! - 60 - 200 RMB

The Silk Markets is definitely not a man's place... it's girlie shopping heaven.

We arrived by subway and the markets were there in the underground basement - everything is sold here from mobiles, DVD's, sunglasses, belts, jeans, shoes, handbags, luggage, jewellery, toys, you name it it's here. Then we crossed the road and discovered 4 more levels of shopping heaven!!!

Adrian opted for a cup of coffee and a newspaper whilst the girls shopped till we dropped.

What to buy: If you are into Diesel Jeans, Ed Hardy clothing, Gucci handbags (copies of designer gear) this is definitely the place for you.

What to pay: Calvin Klein men undies 10rmbs a pair - sorry no photos!!!
Gucci sunglasses 30rmbs
Ed Hardy chuncky belt - see photo - 100rmbs
Ed Hardy tops x 2 and jacket - see photo of jacket - 330rmbs
Diesel Jeans - 120rmbs

The more you buy the cheaper the prices - you have to bargain hard and be prepared for a lot of abuse, grabbing you to prevent leaving their store - it's mayhem but oh so much fun!!!!