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| Silk Market tips, reviews and photos posted by real travelers and Beijing locals.
North of Jiangguomenwai Dajie
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• 42 Reviews
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 | Beijing Silk Market Reviews | 1 - 10 of 42 |  |
This is a six story building that has everything including a restaurant on the sixth floor. Open from 8:30 till 9:00 from October-March and then open until 11:00pm the rest of the year. The best time to shop is during the week (not weekends) early in the mornings. It will take some getting use to if you are not familiar with the bargaining system. Opening prices are always 6 times what they will eventually take for the product. If you are using western thinking about what the products are worth then you will loose money in the bargaining process. These are very low grade products no matter what they look like. We had some local friends from the area who gave us the scoop on buying here and we were surprised how cheaply we could purchase items. Just remember nothing is how it is represented. Leather is not real leather; cashmere and pashmina are their names for soft wool but they are not cashmere and the Gore-Tex was just a name added to the clothing. Some jade was just glass and some pearls had glass bead centers. We found that there were better qualities in about every item and you just had to ask for them for better quality and they keep bringing out higher qualities of the same items. This was especially true for women's purses and all watches. We were offered a cheap look alike for one price and after asking for something better we found an exact duplicate for just 15 rmb ($2.00) more.
Do not buy electronics in these shops. They are not as they are represented and are poor quality at best. The CDs and DVDs that are sold here are poor quality and are not legal in the states or Europe so avoid them. The porcelain contains high quantities of lead so buy it for show only and don't use it to eat or drink from. The silk is good and this is a great place for those family gifts to take back home. Chopsticks, fans, jade, Chinese art and pearls are cheap and easy to find but make sure you study how to buy jade and pearls before you shop here. This is also the HOME of the FAKES. Mont Blanc, Rolex, Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton, and the list goes on. Remember there is almost always better quality than what you are first shown so ask for it. We got prices like 1600RMB ($200.00) for one item and would end up only spending 100RMB ($12.50) on the same item of higher quality. They would say you are killing me with these prices but as they were taking your money they would then ask how many more do you want to buy at this price. The rule is if they sold it to you they made money. Also we could not come to agreement on the price at one shop but could buy the same quality for less that we were originally going to pay just one shop over. There are over 1500 shops so plan on taking some time.
The prices are very cheap. We bought the best quality we could find of the following items and here are the prices we paid in March 2006. This is a list of just a few things: men's Gore-Tex jacket 140RMB ($17.50), best quality designer purses 50-120RMB ($6 - 15.00), designer & popular back packs 70RMB ($9.00), best name brand watches 50RMB ($6.00) automatic with crystal faces 100RMB ($12.50) Japanese movement 150RMB ($19.00) and Swiss movement 280RMB ($35.00), Silk scarves 20RMB ($2.50), best chopstick set 40RMB ($5.00), softball sized jade balls 30-50 RMB ($4 - 6.00), set of 2 designer pens with leather case 40RMB ($5.00), designer sunglasses 25RMB ($3.00), silk dress top 60RMB ($7.50). Everything was at least 1/6th of the asking price and some things were even cheaper than that. Get rid of your western thinking of what things would cost in the US and Europe and you will do well. Theme: OtherDirections: about 1km east of Friendship Store
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If you've ever been bartering in Mexico before, just picture a Mexican market on steroids, and you'll have a good idea of what the silk market is like!
The market is full of beautiful silk products (pyjamas, robes, shirts, scarves, and so on) as well as tons of textiles (cashmere scarves, clothes of all types, tableclothes, etc.), and handicrafts. Everything in the market can be had way cheaper than at any of the stores in the city, but you will have to bargain for it.
The bartering here can be a little overwhelming. The store owners will grab you and drag you back to their shops in order to make a sale, so if you are uncomfortable with this, maybe go with someone bigger than you! I had a man actually block my path for a good two minutes shouting in my face that I should buy a tanktop that I merely glanced at. I finally had to put my hand in the guy's face and yell at him to stop before he left me alone.
When you barter, just remember a few things:
1) No one will sell to you unless they are making a profit. Start your bids at obscenely low prices and work up.
2) Don't worry about offending the merchants, they deal with people who are bigger jerks than you everyday. You won't hurt their feelings if you barter hard, as long as you keep smiling.
3) BE ABLE TO WALK AWAY!!! This is the most important. There is nothing at any shop that you can't get somewhere else. If the shopkeepers see that you can't say no, they won't give you the best deal. Also, walking away is a good bargaining tactic, as they will run after you shouting good prices. Leave a Comment Theme: Women's ClothesDirections: about 1km east of Friendship Store
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The new silk market has opened with a big bang in its new bright and spacious home. The old open market was demolished back in 2005 and had stirred widespread discontentment among traders and bargain hunters who feared higher overhead costs in an indoor market. But it is business as usual as throngs of tourists continue their pilgrimage to this temple of cheap knock-off merchandises. Naturally, after welcoming raids upon raids of tourist-filled buses, the salespersons here can speak passable English and the occasional foreign languages like Spanish, Russian or Italian. They are generally young women who are too eager to grab any passing foreigners who look clueless enough to spend Y120 for a 'Nike' cap. It is amusing to see them practice their usual warm greeting to customers, then lure them into believing that their goods are of good quality with the lowest prices, turn into a rage when being counteroffered with a lower price, and then strike the deal when they are about to lose an exasperated customer.
B2: Foodcourt. B1: A supermarket, bags & suitcases, shoes, caps and leather goods. F1: Men's clothing and cashmere, F2: Ladies' fashion and cashmere. F3: Tailor shop, knitted dresses, silk, kid's clothing, bedding and carpet. F4: Jewelry, ornament, traditional crafts, cosmetics, toys, glasses, electrical appliances, watches, and sporting goods. F5: Jewelry, coral, pearl, crystal, amber and emerald. F6 & F7: restaurants and Tongrentang pharmacy.
The general rule is to have a clear figure of what you are willing to pay for the good before asking them the prices. There is no right or wrong prices as they need to make a profit and you want to buy something cheaper that what you are used to. Look around before actually buying as many shops stock the same thing. Theme: OtherPhone: 51699003Directions: Exit A from the Yonganli subway stationWebsite: www.xiushui.com.cn
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On Thursday 6th January at 6.30pm, the Silk Market closed for good.
A new building has opened alongside the old site, but few vendors will be moving in because of the high rental rates. The local authority promises "no fakes" on sale at the new indoor market: they clearly understand exactly why people came to the Silk Market, eh? So now you know exactly where you can buy your world-famous Chinese brand sneakers, jeans and jackets.
Rather amusingly, many of the vendors are complaining that the new indoor market has stolen the brand they spent years building up. The irony seems lost on them and the local media.
Some vendors have moved to Hongqiao Market (see review) Leave a Comment Theme: OtherDirections: about 1km east of Friendship Store
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Hi Everyone...
Just a note to all you caucasian bargainers out there, here's the price of some items after bargaining a little...(I'm sure my fellow chinese at the silk market will kill me for this...but I feel bad for you guys.)
It's all I can remember off the top of my head! Of course it helps to be/speak chinese, so if you have any chinese speaking friends, i recommend taking them along w/ you to china next time.
good luck bargaining!
i say go for the clothes and purses...the wall scrolls are nice too!
You can get a goretex jacket (really water proof, i poured water all over it) for 30 bucks, get a huge samsonite suitcase for 20 bucks (I saw a lot of non-chinese get ripped off for 70 bucks US "lowest price!" right?), you can get most purses for about 10-20 bucks...large coach purses are about 11, large gucci's are about 20 bucks, small gucci's are 5..., collared dress shirts (tommy, polo, nautica, versace, etc.) for 5 bucks, tommy bahama shirts for 12. Theme: Men's ClothesDirections: about 1km east of Friendship Store
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In the Silk Market you find mostly clothes, though there are a few antique stalls as well and a couple of stalls selling ethnic clothing and bedsheets. You will need to bargain, though its a little bit harder here because there are more tourists.
Good buys are silk dressing gowns, ties and scarves. Most of the designer labels are fake.
More and more people hanging around to sell music CDs, DVDs and CD-ROM games. (they can be knocked down to 10 Yuan) I have to admit, I didnt trust the quality so I never tried to purchase such CDs.
It depends how good you are in bargain. My expericance: If you are a Westerner the local salesmen try to sell the stuff much higher than they would ask for local customer. Well, thats no surprice. But for me it was a suprise that you can bargain up to 60-70%. In the evening it was easier to get such a price. And, maybe I had another advantage. My chinese girlfriend accompanied me. Nevertheless, if the salesmen don't reduce the 'original' price to 50%, leave the stall.... and it won't be a surprice if they follow you to give you another, better price. So, don't forget: How much can you expect to spend? It depends how good you are in bargain. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherDirections: about 1 km east of the Friendship Store
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Be it any shop - Remember bargianing is expected in China. It is the norm for the shopkeeper to try to fleece you if you are a foreigner.
Always expected to be quoted between 4 and 5 times the price. Remember the price ranges - T shirts are between RMB 20 and rMB 40, backpacks in between RMB 50 and RMB 70, DVD's in between RMB 8 and 25 and shoes in between RMB 200 to RMB 250. You will be asked your 'final offer price' 6 or 7 times by the shop-keeper. Be prepared to haggle and be firm on your price. You can always walk away and go to the adjacent shop.
T-shirts(size L in US is XXL in China)
Backpacks
DVD's and CD's
Shoes
Traditional arts if interested.
Tea
As above Leave a Comment Theme: Discount Store
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Silk Alley lies in Xiushuidong Jie off Jianguomenwai Dajie, near US Embassy. It is a good place to buy cheaper goods and the resident foreigners in Beijing come here frequently. Whatever you want to buy, like bags, shoes, handicrafts or sweaters, you can bargain with the owners.
bags, shoes, handicrafts, sweaters, etc
good place to bargain Leave a Comment Theme: Women's ClothesDirections: about 1km east of Friendship Store
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The SILK MARKET or XIU SHUI SHI CHANG is where you can buy many clothe-items like North Face, Timberland jackets, even branded things like Prada. Naturally, not many are authentic. This is also the place to buy your Oriental cheongsam - the tight, figure-hugging Oriental dress.
Go EARLY to avoid crowds and remember to bargain.
Or, go LATE in the afternoon, just before closing (should be before sun-down) when vendors are keen to make their final sales before they pack up. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherDirections: The market is located along the East-West metro line, very near to Yong An Li metro station, on Jianguomenwai Dajie.
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well, not so sure it was this exact Silk Market where the guide took me to (of course he didnt ask if i wanted to visit it!), just forced me to come in like they always do...taking you to all kind of pearl, silk, jade factories and shops is a must for them after you are deadly tired from sightseeing tour:) but at the end i didnt mind at all, the tour in the factory was very informative and demostrative...though i was bit tired cause one of the salesmen was insisting too much on buying a silk blanket..if not for me, it would be great present for my parents..ok,. if not for you parents..take it for your friends..
all is from silk here..blankets, pillowcases, bags, traditional clothes, scarfs, ties..neverending!
prices are different, blankets are expensive of course, but i bought few nice scarfs with beautifully printed ornaments, each costed max 20$ Theme: GiftsDirections: about 1km east of Friendship Store
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