Beijing Shopping
Beijing is not the place to buy expensive designer clothes and accessories or imported cosmetics if it can be avoided, as most luxury items are heavily taxed in China.
Scitech (CVIK) Plaza
22 Jianguomenwai Dajie
Chaoyang District
Tel: +86-10 6512-4488
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
ScitechPlaza sells clothing, houseware, cosmetics, toys, sporting goods, and stationery. It also houses a supermarket in the sub-basement. On the first floor, you will find counters of leading cosmetics brands -- including Clinique, Christian Dior, and Lancome.
Friendship Store
17 Jianguomenwai Dajie
Chaoyang District
Tel: +86-10 6500-3311
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
You can buy a variety of Chinese tea, medicines, silk material, carpets, stationery, tapes, CDs, as well as handicrafts from Yunnan province. The bookstore on the first floor carries the Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Asian Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, The Economist, Newsweek, and Time as well as leading European magazines.
China World Trade Center Shopping Center
1 Jianguomenwai Dajie
Tel: +86-10 6505-2288
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Imported clothes such as Burberrys, Alfred Dunhill, and Cerruti
The Palace Hotel
1 Gold Fish Hutong
Wangfujing Dajie
Tel: +86-10 6512-8899
The Palace Hotel has the largest collection of the best European brand names: Hermes, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Fendi, Bally, Armani, Gieves & Hawkes, Christian Dior, Nina Ricci.
Shidu Department
99 Wangfujing Dajie
Tel: +86-10 6526-7890
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Carries popular brands, like Charles Jourdan, Ralph Lauren, Esprit, Jessica, Ports. Also leading international cosmetics and perfumes, including Elizabeth Arden, Nina Ricci, Christian Dior, Shiseido and Gucci
Sun Dong An
138 Wangfujing Dajie
Tel: +86-10 6527-6688
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.
Caters mainly to local shoppers
Lufthansa Center
52 Liangmaqiao
Chaoyang District
Tel: +86-10 6465-1188
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Clothing, housewares, cosmetics, toys, sporting goods, stationery, and a supermarket in the basement
Silk Market (Xiushui Shichang)
At the corner of Jianguomenwai and Dongdaqiao
Sells men's and women's apparel, silk, cashmere. Silk alley is also known for a large collection of name brand items (of questionable origin and quality): North Face, Abercrombie & Fitch, Levi's, J.Crew, Nike, Prada, and more. Popular with both tourists and long-time Beijing residents
Sanlitun Street Market
Sanlitun Jiubajie (Sanlitun Bar Street)
Sells name brand (counterfeit or factory rejected) apparel and some local handicrafts.
Hongqiao Market
Northeast of the Temple of Heaven (Tiantan)
A good place to buy fresh water pearls
Panjiayuan Antique and Curio Market
Huaweiqiaoxi Nan Dajie
Dongsanhuan, Chaoyang District
Dealers here specialize in ceramics, Cultural Revolution kitsch, and bric-a-brac, from real antiques to products fresh from the factory made to look like antiques. There are always some good buys here if you take the time to walk up and down the many lanes. The best time to come is Saturday or Sunday when this open-air market is packed with dealers.